Moment elderly man pushing trolley trips over at the end of Sainsbury’s travelator before woman behind him collapses on top of him – as shoppers race to switch it off
- CCTV footage captured the man heading out of Sainsbury’s in Kent in January
- Front two wheels of trolley get stuck on travelator and man falls to the floor
- An elderly woman behind him is unable to stop herself moving forward
- She too loses her balance and topples over as frantic onlookers rush to get help
- Noone was seriously injured in the incident and Sainsbury’s are investigating
An elderly man tripped up at the end of a Sainsbury’s travelator when his trolley got stuck causing a pile-up of shoppers trying to get down.
CCTV footage captured the man heading out of Sainsbury’s in Hempstead Valley, Kent, with his trolley loaded with groceries on January 21.
But when the front two wheels of the trolley get stuck on the end of the travelator, the man – who has not been named – falls to the floor.
An elderly woman behind him is unable to stop herself moving forward as the man struggles on the ground.
She too loses her balance and topples over as frantic onlookers rush to get help.
No one was seriously injured in the incident.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said the footage was shared online illegally and the supermarket is investigating what happened.
An elderly man tripped up at the end of a Sainsbury’s travelator when his trolley got stuck, causing a pile-up of shoppers trying to get down (pictured) in Kent
In the footage – which has been shared widely on social media – the elderly man is seen approaching the end of the moving platform on his way out of the supermarket.
The front two wheels of the trolley get stuck, prompting the man to push down on the handles to lift it up.
But he overestimates the pressure needed and trolley flips backwards – with the weight of it sending him toppling to the ground.
A woman following him on the travelator tries to stop herself crashing into the man by clutching onto the moving handrails – while desperately shuffling her trolley out of the way.
CCTV footage captured the man heading out of Sainsbury’s in Hempstead Valley, Kent, (pictured) with his trolley loaded with groceries on January 21
But her efforts are to no avail and trolley becomes lodged over the man’s head.
As another shopper yanks the trolley away – and terrified onlookers rush to get help – the woman loses her balance and falls on top of the man.
The shopper is able to pull the trolley away from the pair as the clip comes to an end.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘Safety is our highest priority and we’re investigating this incident.
But when the front two wheels of the trolley get stuck on the end of the travelator, the man – who has not been named – falls to the floor (pictured)
An elderly woman behind him is unable to stop herself moving forward as the man struggles on the ground. She too loses her balance and topples over (pictured) as frantic onlookers rush to get help
‘We are in contact with the customers involved who thankfully were not seriously hurt.’
The footage highlights the dangers of travelators for elderly or disabled shoppers.
Last year, 85-year-old Russell Stubbings from Brisbane, Australia, revealed he was suing Coles Supermarkets after he sustained a suspected brain injury and broke his shoulder from falling down a travelator.
CCTV video of the incident shows Mr Stubbings fall onto the moving platform as members of the public rush help the elderly shopper.
The trolley continues to wheel itself down the travellator before other shoppers stop it with Mr Stubbings left crumpled on the floor.
Mr Stubbings said he suffered a broken shoulder and a brain injury and has been ‘disturbed’ by the incident ever since.