Horror on the Escalator: Woman’s Hair Gets Caught, Leaving Her Scalp Torn and Neck Injured

1. A Routine Shopping Trip Turns to Chaos

What began as a normal afternoon of shopping turned into a nightmare for a young woman after a horrifying escalator accident left her with severe scalp and neck injuries. The incident took place at Riverside Mall, one of the city’s busiest shopping centers, just before closing time on Saturday.

Witnesses say the victim — a woman in her early twenties with long black hair — was descending the escalator when her hair suddenly became entangled in the moving steps. Within seconds, the powerful mechanism began pulling her downward by the head.

“She screamed — a scream that made everyone freeze,” said Lina Pham, a shopper who was standing one floor below. “Her hair was being dragged in, and no one knew how to stop it.”

Security personnel rushed to press the emergency stop button, but the escalator continued to move for several seconds — long enough to cause devastating injuries.

2. A Scene of Panic and Pain

When the escalator finally stopped, several bystanders rushed to help. They found the woman lying on the metal steps, blood pooling around her as strands of her hair remained jammed in the machinery.

“It was chaos,” recalled Thomas Nguyen, who works at a nearby electronics store. “People were shouting, some fainted, others tried to pull her hair free. I saw a man take off his shirt and try to wrap it around her head to stop the bleeding.”

Emergency responders arrived within minutes, carefully cutting sections of the escalator to free her hair. Paramedics said the woman had suffered a severe scalp avulsion — a traumatic injury in which large portions of the skin and hair are torn from the skull — as well as deep neck lacerations and bruising to the shoulders.

She was immediately rushed to St. Joseph’s General Hospital, where doctors began emergency reconstructive surgery.

3. The Battle to Save Her Scalp

Hospital officials later confirmed that the victim, whose name has not yet been released, underwent more than five hours of surgery to repair the torn tissue on her head and neck.

“She suffered one of the most severe scalp injuries we’ve seen in years,” said Dr. Olivia Hart, a trauma surgeon at St. Joseph’s. “The force of the escalator can be immense. When hair gets trapped in those moving parts, it doesn’t just pull — it tears.”

Doctors say she remains in critical but stable condition and will require multiple follow-up surgeries, including skin grafts and potential hair restoration procedures.

Family members, visibly shaken, declined to speak in detail but expressed gratitude to the bystanders who helped. “If they hadn’t acted fast, she might not have survived,” said a relative quietly outside the hospital.

4. Investigating the Escalator Malfunction

Authorities are now investigating whether a mechanical fault or poor maintenance contributed to the accident. Mall officials claim the escalator had been inspected just two weeks earlier and was deemed safe for public use.

However, early findings suggest the emergency stop button was not functioning properly at the time of the incident — a critical failure that may have worsened the woman’s injuries.

“The button should have stopped the escalator instantly,” said Inspector James Carter, head of the city’s mechanical safety division. “We’re testing to see if there was an electrical delay or if the system was partially jammed.”

The Riverside Mall management released a statement late Sunday, saying they were “deeply saddened” by the incident and were cooperating fully with investigators. The escalator has since been sealed off pending a full safety inspection.

5. Witnesses Still Traumatized

Many witnesses say they are still haunted by what they saw. “I can’t get the image out of my head,” said Lina, the shopper who first screamed for help. “It happened so fast. One second she was just standing there — the next, she was on the ground, her hair everywhere.”

Videos captured by mall surveillance cameras show several people rushing to help as others scream in panic. Authorities have urged the public not to share graphic footage online out of respect for the victim and her family.

Meanwhile, mental health volunteers have been deployed to the mall to support traumatized staff and witnesses who were present during the accident.

6. Experts Warn About Escalator Safety

Safety experts say accidents like this, though rare, highlight the hidden dangers of escalators — particularly for individuals with long hair, loose clothing, or scarves.

“Escalators are incredibly powerful machines,” said Dr. Marcus Lee, an industrial safety consultant. “When something gets caught — whether it’s a shoelace, clothing, or hair — the mechanism doesn’t stop easily. The force can cause catastrophic injuries.”

According to the National Consumer Safety Commission, more than 10,000 escalator-related injuries occur each year in public spaces, many involving entrapment of clothing, footwear, or body parts.

Experts recommend that long-haired individuals tie their hair up, keep a safe distance from the sides and edges, and remain alert near the comb plate where the steps disappear.

7. Public Outcry and Calls for Accountability

News of the accident spread rapidly across social media, with thousands expressing sympathy and outrage. Many called for stricter safety checks and improved training for mall personnel.

“How could this happen in a modern shopping mall?” one post read. “If the emergency stop button didn’t work, that’s not an accident — that’s negligence.”

Others urged escalator manufacturers to implement automatic hair-detection sensors or safety shields to prevent similar accidents. Several cities in Asia and Europe have already introduced such systems following similar tragedies.

“Technology exists to prevent this,” wrote another commenter. “No one should have to suffer like that just for taking an escalator.”

8. A Life Changed Forever

Doctors say the young woman faces a long and painful recovery. Beyond the physical scars, the psychological trauma will likely take even longer to heal.

“She’s awake and aware,” said Dr. Hart. “But she’s still in shock. We have therapists on standby to support her when she’s ready to talk.”

Friends have started an online fundraiser to cover her medical expenses, which could exceed $60,000 due to multiple surgeries and rehabilitation. Within 24 hours, the campaign had already surpassed half its goal, with hundreds of strangers leaving messages of support.

One message reads:

“You’re strong. You survived something unimaginable — don’t give up.”

9. A Cautionary Reminder

As investigators continue to examine the cause of the malfunction, safety experts say the accident serves as a tragic reminder of how easily everyday moments can turn catastrophic.

“It takes just a second,” said Dr. Lee. “One loose strand of hair, one untied scarf — and a machine that doesn’t forgive mistakes.”

For shoppers returning to Riverside Mall, the escalator stands silent now — cordoned off with yellow tape and fresh flowers left by sympathetic visitors. A simple sign reads:

“Get well soon. You are not alone.”