A slide at a newly opened children's playground in southwest Sydney has been sealed shut after a man was rushed to hospital with a leg injury.
Incident at Toggerai Park
The playground is part of Toggerai Park in Appin, which opened to the public earlier in July. On July 13, about 1:30pm, two NSW Ambulances responded to reports of an injury at the park. A man in his 40s suffered a leg injury while using the slide and was taken to Campbelltown Hospital in a stable condition, paramedics confirmed.
Social media warnings
Development, Housing and Infrastructure Minister Paul Scully had promoted the new park with a video of himself using the slide on social media on July 10. The video showed him exiting the slide at speed and barely keeping his footing. “Delivered, tested and approved,” the video stated. However, comments under the post warned others about safety concerns. “Videos already circulating on the local community page of people coming off that slide very dangerously,” one user said. Another called Scully “brave” to use the slide, while a third noted paramedics had already visited the park.
Park history and response
Other locals have reported injuries from the playground equipment, with one woman claiming her foot “snapped in two spots going down the slide,” though that report could not be verified. A photo now shows a metal sheet blocking entry to the slide. The park was developed after consultation phases between the community, the Housing, Planning and Infrastructure Department, and Wollondilly Shire Council since September 2020. A November 2023 report on the final consultation noted locals were “excited by the size of the playground and the range of experiences available” and praised the park setting and recreation options. 7NEWS.com.au approached the department and council for comment.
