'Disturbing' Video Shows Child Pulled Under Peloton Treadmill in Safety Regulator Warning

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Saturday released a video that shows a young child being pulled under a Peloton treadmill, with the federal safety agency warning parents to "stop using the machine" immediately.

The CPSC, an independent federal regulation agency, issued an official warning after the death of one child and reports of injuries among dozens of other children and pets tied to the Peloton Tread+ treadmill. The agency has not yet issued a recall on the products, but announced it is still investigating numerous cases of young kids being violently pulled under the exercise machines, resulting in bone fractures, scrapes, and even the death of one child.

Peloton earlier this month described the fatal incident as a "tragic accident," but said the consumer agency's warning this week is "misleading."

The agency's warning to consumers noted 39 incidents directly tied to the $4,000 Peloton Tread+, one of the company's many exercise machines that have seen sales skyrocket amid the pandemic.

The CPSC released a "disturbing" video which shows footage of two unnamed young children playing on the treadmill before the little boy is slowly dragged under the machine.

"This video demonstrates the hazard to children posed by the Tread+. [Warning, video content may be disturbing to some viewers.] It is believed that at least one incident occurred while a parent was running on the treadmill, suggesting that the hazard cannot be avoided simply by locking the device when not in use. Reports of a pet and objects being sucked beneath the Tread+ also suggest possible harm to the user if the user loses balance as a result."

New York-based Peloton Interactive Inc. responded to the consumer agency's warning Saturday, describing it as "inaccurate and misleading" and urging federal regulators against issuing a mandatory or voluntary recall.

In March, Peloton CEO Mark Foley issued a memo that disclosed the "devastating" report of a child dying during an accident involving their machine. Foley offered condolences to the unnamed family and stressed that parents and those with pets much take precautionary measures, particularly when the device is not in use.

"Follow all the safety warnings and instructions" that are provided with each piece of equipment. Keep children and pets away from Peloton exercise equipment at all times," the statement said.

But the CPSC is pressing for more proactive measures to be taken in order to prevent children or pets being injured underneath the machines. The commission deemed the blunt warning to "stop using the Peloton Tread+" as part of public health and safety.

"Stop using the Peloton Tread+ if there are small children or pets at home. Incidents suggest that children may be seriously injured while the Tread+ is being used by an adult, not just when a child has unsupervised access to the machine," the consumer protection agency wrote Saturday.

"If consumers must continue to use the product, CPSC urges consumers to use the product only in a locked room, to prevent access to children and pets while the treadmill is in use. Keep all objects, including exercise balls and other equipment, away from the treadmill," the agency continued.

Newsweek reached out to Consumer Product Safety Commission representatives as well as Peloton for comment.