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A six-year-old boy could be left with his arm permanently deformed after tripping and falling at a playground in Sengkang, due to a gaping hole in the ground.

The boy's mother, 34, told Shin Min Daily News that the incident happened on Wednesday (Mar. 22) at Block 123B Rivervale Drive around 7pm.

Fell while playing

The woman, who only wanted to be identified as Madam Yang, said her domestic worker was taking the dog for a walk when her son tagged along.

They stopped by the playground for her son to play, but while he was having fun running around, he tripped over a hole on the ground and fell.

He cried in pain and screamed that his arm was broken, so her helper brought him back upstairs.

Yang said her maid did not see what happened as she was busy with the dog.

Forearm bone split into two

They noticed that her son's left arm's bones were "not in the correct position", so they immediately brought him to the nearest hospital.

"We thought it was a dislocation until the doctor told us it was very serious after seeing the X-ray," Yang said. "Soon after, they transferred my son to KK Hospital."

Based on the X-ray, the boy's forearm bone was observed to have split into two pieces, and the bones had moved entirely out of place.

When they reached KK Women's and Children's Hospital, the doctor told them that the fall could have injured his nerves and if that were the case, his arm would be immobilised permanently.

Doctor: Arm will never grow straight again

The doctor operated on Yang's son's arm the next day and inserted three metal pins to assist in shifting the bones back into position.

"After further assessment, he told us that my son's arm will never grow straight again, but he has no idea how my son's future will be affected."

The doctor was so puzzled about how the boy encountered such an injury that he had to ask him exactly what had happened.

Hole in ground was because of removed zebra kiddie ride

Yang returned home with her son the next day and found the hole in the playground, which she remembered had a zebra kiddie spring ride at the same spot.

She also noticed that there were exposed screws left in the hole.

She figured that the town council had left the hole as it was when they removed the ride and called them up to complain.

Yang said the town council asked her for her son's medical report and the medical fees receipt so that they could check with their insurance provider.

Town council filled up the hole

She said the hospital quoted S$9,900 for her son's surgery and a two-day stay at the hospital, but the final bill could be lower as he only stayed one night.

However, as a single mother, she is more concerned about her son's future and the medical fees they will incur for his recovery.

In response to Shin Min Daily News' queries, Sengkang Town Council replied that they had cordoned off the area and filled the hole.

Top image via Shin Min Daily News