Woman, 23, breaks leg riding Changi Airport T4 tube slide

A 23-year-old Malaysian woman was riding the tube slide at Changi Airport's Terminal 4 on Nov. 4 night when she suffered a severe injury.

Two bones in her right leg broke after she hit the slide, and her calf was bent at a 90-degree angle, she recounted.

Although she did not experience any bleeding, the woman knew her leg was broken once she exited the slide, as she could feel "a sharp pain" in her right leg and "could no longer control it".

As she was not able to get up on her own, she cried for help, but "there were no airport staff in sight", she added in a Xiaohongshu post on Nov. 5.

It was only after her friends sought help from staff stationed at another area of the terminal that the woman was conveyed to Changi General Hospital (CGH) via ambulance.

A doctor at the hospital confirmed that two bones in her right calf were broken.

What happened

Speaking to Mothership, the woman, who wanted to be known only as Z, shared that she and her friends were leaving Singapore after a three-day holiday.

On Nov. 4, they arrived at Changi Airport and checked into their return flight to Malaysia, which was scheduled to depart at 8:55pm.

As they still had some time before their flight, Z and her friends decided to try out the slide, as they had seen positive reviews on Facebook and Xiaohongshu.

Z said she was not aware of previous cases where travellers sustained injuries after riding the slide, as those posts "did not gain as much traction as the posts that praised the slide".

Noticed something amiss during first ride

According to Z, she and her friends began their first ride down the slide at around 8:09pm, which she described as "very fun".

Thrills aside, she said she did notice that the turns of the slide were "quite dangerous" as she was travelling down at high speed, but her calves were often stuck on the sides of the slide due to the friction.

At first, Z, who was wearing a skirt at the time, thought the friction was generated when her legs touched the slides, rather than the soles of her new running shoes.

As such, Z told her friends that she would be "securing her skirt with her hands" and "would not be bringing her phone with her" on her second ride to ensure her safety.

Mishap

Z began her second ride down the slide at around 8:14pm. It was caught on camera by her friend.

According to the footage, Z could be heard screaming "Ah!" when her right calf hit the side of the slide with an audible thud.

Z told Mothership that at the time, she felt that "her leg and her body were going in different directions".

She surmised after the accident that she suffered bone fractures as the anti-slip soles of her new shoes contributed to her legs getting stuck on the slide, while her body was still going down fast.

She also observed that some of her friends who rode the slide had abrasions, but were not wearing anti-slip shoes, and did not have as serious injuries.

When she finally arrived at the slide exit, Z "immediately cried for help in multiple languages" in the hopes that someone would come to her assistance.

However, only her friends ended up noticing Z's ordeal after they saw her still sitting at the slide exit, unable to stand on her own.

Arrived at hospital 1 hour later

Z told Mothership that she sat in pain for another 20 minutes before one of her friends managed to find staff members who were able to attend to her.

When she asked why her friend took so long, her friend said it was because "they had to travel quite far to find the service counter" and "had to explain to the staff Z's situation in detail".

It took another 15 minutes for a female staff to arrive and apply ice on Z's leg, and another 15 minutes for a doctor to arrive with painkillers, recounted Z.

By the time Z was conveyed to the hospital, it was already 9:30pm, almost an hour after her mishap, she added.

'Severely injured'

Z shared in her Xiaohongshu video that her injury was "quite severe", as it would take five to seven days for her swelling to subside.

She would also need to undergo surgery, which required the doctors to "affix steel plates and tighten screws" on her leg.

Z said she required painkillers and analgesic injections to relieve the pain.

Z added that she had already spent over S$560 on her medical bills as of Nov. 5, and the amount will only increase after she returns to Malaysia for surgery.

She also said she was "most concerned" that she now has to give up on her exercise regime, which she had been "following very closely for years".

These include running 8km to 9km twice a week, as well as weight-lifting, shared Z.

Hope others can be careful

Z said she has since written to Changi Airport Group (CAG) via its feedback form online and is currently waiting for its reply, after airport staff apparently "did not take down" her contact details.

She added that she wanted to share her experience so that others could be aware of the dangers of the ride.

In May 2024, a traveller sustained a cut on the front of her scalp after colliding with the top of the slide at T4.

CAG statement

In response to Mothership's queries, a Changi Airport Group spokesperson said the group is aware of the incident and "regrets to hear" about Z's experience.

"At Changi Airport, the safety of passengers is our top priority," read the statement.

According to the spokesperson, CAG has safety guidelines "clearly displayed at the slide's entrance" to ensure a good experience.

"These guidelines include instructions on correct positioning, the importance of wearing covered shoes, and recommendations to avoid loose items and skirts when using the slide," read the statement.

"We encourage all passengers to read and follow these guidelines closely," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson added: "We extend our best wishes to [Z] for a swift recovery and hope to welcome her back to Changi Airport soon."

Top images via Z's Xiaohongshu