7-Year-Old Boy Injured in Brussels Ice Rink Accident, Father Blames Organizers

According to a member of the rescue team dispatched to the scene to take Zaid to the Saint Jean hospital, he was jostled. Someone else arrived and his skates hit the child’s face. This accident leaves the boy with two large wounds on his face and six stitches. For a month, he is strictly forbidden from engaging in activities such as gymnastics and swimming, reports dhnet.be.

Samir, on the verge of anger, accuses the organizers of the Winter Pleasures. "They should intervene in the medical and hospital costs. But they say they are not responsible. If I am outraged, it is not only for my own expenses but for all those who frequent this type of place. What happens when it’s more serious, or worse, when a child dies?", declares the family father.

On the side of Brussels Major Events (BME), the Non-Profit Association (ASBL) that organizes the Winter Pleasures, the officials say they are "saddened that a child was injured while skating. However, the responsibility of the BME is not engaged in the absence of any fault presenting a causal link with the accident that occurred," says spokeswoman Marina Bresciani. She specifies that they ensure that the facilities do not present anomalies that could cause accidents.

While emphasizing their inability to say what really happened, since they were not witnesses to the facts, they nevertheless retain, from the testimonies received, that the accident does not involve any installation on site. "Such a scenario would likely be covered by a family liability policy," the spokeswoman said.

"In the field of entertainment and sports, jurisprudence is cautious," explains Wauthier Robyns, spokesperson for Assuralia, the professional union of insurance companies, contacted by the site. For him, "Whether on an ice rink or elsewhere, when practicing rugby, or doing acrobatic rock climbing, we consider that there is an accepted risk. We engage in these activities or allow our children to engage in them in full knowledge of the facts, especially if the organizers have posted their disclaimer of responsibility," he specifies.

In this regard, the BME ASBL confirmed that such a notice was located downstream of the ticket offices, in the room where the practitioners put on their skates, the same source notes.