WATCH: Toddler scales pool fence in 21 seconds in online video sure to terrify all parents
An Adelaide mum has shared a video online which is sure to terrify every parent, showing her toddler climbing a pool fence in 21 seconds.
Wendy Atkinson shared the video on Facebook in order to highlight the dangerous flaws of some fences and encourage parents to always keep an eye on their children.
The video, which has been shared 196,000 times shows Ms Atkinson's two-year-old son Brodie easily climbing and opening a 1.45 metre gate.
She told News Corp that her goal was to warn parents and to prevent children from drowning.
"The fact that my son is in a nappy really brings the issue home," Ms Atkinson told The Sunday Courier Mail.
"It does start with supervision but children as quick as they are can get out of your clutches and when they do, 21 seconds is not enough time for any parent to react.
"The South Australian standard height of a pool fence is 1.2m and it’s not high enough. Clearly no fence is safe, not one of them a deterrent for some kids."
The Christie Downs mum of four said the first time she saw her son climbing the fence she "read him the riot act", but following several child drownings this summer decided to film his feat to show parents how quickly things can get away from them.
"I wanted it to sink in peoples mind just how quick these kids are," she said.
"It’s vigilance but it’s also just really hard. I’ve got three other kids to watch and these poor families are being absolutely hammered and for what? It’s a never ending battle,” she said.
"I’m no expert by any stretch of the imagination. But my son is teaching me and others that we need to pay attention. He’s telling us that it’s so easy.”
She said her family were currently renovating their backyard and knew their in-ward opening, non-springloaded gate breached South Australian regulations, but had intended to have a new fence erected before buying a pool.
But Ms Atkinson said she would now delay installing a pool until her son could swim confidently.
Stephen Leahy from the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter said the footage was scary.
"This kid scales that fence with absolute ease," Mr Leahy said.
"We have got vertical bars on fences and this kid it doesn't bother him and he's up like a shot.
"If you have a look at this video, there are pavers or bricks right next to that gate and the kid could have easily climbed up onto those and he hasn't, he's used the fence to do it."
There has been a 30 per cent increase for drowning deaths of children under five in 12 months.
Mr Leahy said it can be difficult to parents to always be watching their children, but it was important they stay vigilant.
"If you're thinking about putting a pool in your yard, don't do it until the kids are able to swim.
"Throw a life jacket on them, so if they do fall into the pool while you're not watching they're still going to remain afloat."
Swimming Pool and Spa Association executive officer Suzie Kent said it was up to each pool owner to make sure their pool fence and locks were safe.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of supervision,” Ms Kent told News Corp.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t surprise me that a child the age of the little boy in the video can find a way to climb anything so quickly, let alone a pool fence."
She said the video should remind all parents of "the need for hyper-vigilance in their awareness of their child's wareabouts".
Today's top news stories- January 16
