Child dies following Peloton treadmill accident

A child has died after an accident involving a Peloton treadmill, according to a letter released by the company on Thursday. Peloton CEO and co-founder John Foley wrote about the “tragic accident” that led to the child’s death, although out of respect for the family, he gave no specifics on the incident. 

“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,” Foley wrote in his letter, which was directed toward Peloton Tread+ users. He continued, noting that the company was aware of “a small handful” of other incidents in which children were hurt on the Tread+. “Our hearts go out to the families involved.” 

Foley said his team at Peloton designs every one of their products “with safety in mind,” but he added that the technology and safety features can only go so far.

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“In order to help ensure that you and your family members stay safe with Peloton products in your home, we need your help,” he wrote, adding that all users should review and follow the safety warnings provided by the company with each machine. 

The Tread+ is Peloton’s first treadmill, and the company recently released its second iteration of the machine — simply titled the Peloton Tread — in the Canadian and U.K. markets. According to the New York Times, the company’s stock price dropped 4.6 per cent following the news of the accident. 

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