GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- A 12-year-old boy has died after falling from a rock climbing wall at a trampoline park in Gaston County.
- A 12 year old has died falling from Altitude Trampoline Park's rock climbing wall.
- He was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after it happened.
- The rock climbing area is currently closed at the park.
It happened Wednesday at the Altitude Trampoline Park on East Franklin Boulevard. He was rushed to the hospital after the fall. Friday, Lowell Police told Spectrum News that they were informed by hospital staff at CMC Thursday evening that he had died from his injuries.
They say he was not secured in his harness while on the rock climbing wall.
There's no word on how the accident happened, but MEDIC says they've responded to three calls at the park since January. They were not able to confirm the type of calls.
Before anyone plays inside the park, they have to sign a lengthy waiver which says "participation in trampoline court and park activities entails known, anticipated, and unanticipated risks that could result in death."
Matt Fleishman, an attorney in Charlotte, says the waiver is designed to protect the company if someone gets hurt, or worse.
"The waiver might mention a whole bunch of possible outcomes to you. The real question is what caused the child's fatal injury," he said.
Fleishman says if you get injured on your own while at a park, the company is covered. But, if it's an equipment malfunction, you may have a case for court.
"If the equipment is faulty, if there's faulty training, if there's improper supervision, the waiver doesn't cover those types of issues, and the person is certainly able to go after the owner of the property at that point," he said.
Investigators have released a statement saying the incident is not a criminal investigation:
The Lowell Police Department has concluded that the incident that happened on 06/19/2019 at Altitude Trampoline Park involving the 12 year old juvenile is not a criminal investigation. Our condolences goes out to the family, please keep the family and this young man in your prayers.