Peloton didn’t explain how the fatal accident occurred or how it learned of the event, citing privacy considerations. One of the company’s Tread exercise machines.
Photo: Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg News
A child was killed in an accident involving a Peloton Interactive Inc. PTON -4.69% treadmill, the fitness equipment maker’s chief executive officer said in a letter posted online for customers.
“I’m reaching out to you today because I recently learned about a tragic accident involving a child and the Tread+, resulting in, unthinkably, a death,” CEO John Foley said in the letter.
Mr. Foley said the company is aware of a “small handful” of cases involving Peloton’s treadmill equipment in which children have been hurt.
The company didn’t explain how the fatal accident occurred or how it learned of the event, citing the privacy of those involved. A company representative said the Tread+ had been designed and tested for users who are at least 16 years old and weigh at least 105 pounds.
In the letter, Mr. Foley advised customers to keep children and pets away from Peloton exercise equipment and to make sure the area is clear before using the machines. When the machine isn’t in use, Tread+ users should remove a safety key that disables the equipment to protect children, he said.
Demand for Peloton’s internet-connected equipment has surged over the past year as the pandemic closed gyms and prompted many people to work out at home. Customers have waited weeks for deliveries due to the strong demand and supply-chain problems that the company has sought to address.
Write to Matt Grossman at [email protected]
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Appeared in the March 19, 2021, print edition.
