Child killed in ‘tragic’ accident involving Peloton treadmill, CEO says

NEW YORK — A child death has been linked to a treadmill sold by Peloton Interactive Inc., the company’s co-founder and CEO confirmed in an email to customers Thursday.

“I’m reaching out to you today because I recently learned about a tragic accident involving a child and the Tread+, resulting in, unthinkably, a death,” John Foley wrote in his message to owners of the popular treadmill.

“While we are aware of only a small handful of incidents involving the Tread+ where children have been hurt, each one is devastating to all of us at Peloton, and our hearts go out to the families involved,” Foley added.

The New York-based exercise equipment and media company was founded in 2012, and funded primarily by a 2013 Kickstarter campaign.

In his email, Foley urged Peloton users to always keep children and pets away from the company’s equipment. In specific reference to the Tread+, he instructed users to make certain they remove the safety key when the treadmill is not in use and to store that key out of reach of children.

>> Read more trending news

“We are always looking for new ways to ensure that you have the best experience with our products, and we are currently assessing ways to reinforce our warnings about these critical safety precautions to hopefully prevent future accidents,” Foley wrote.

Read the full text of Foley’s message below:

“I’m reaching out to you today because I recently learned about a tragic accident involving a child and the Tread+, resulting in, unthinkably, a death. While we are aware of only a small handful of incidents involving the Tread+ where children have been hurt, each one is devastating to all of us at Peloton, and our hearts go out to the families involved.

“We design and build all of our products with safety in mind. But in order to help ensure that you and your family members stay safe with Peloton products in your home, we need your help. This is especially true during what I hope is the final stretch of the pandemic where everyone is still at home. To prevent accidents, please take care to review and follow all the safety warnings and instructions that we provide, and always:

• Keep children and pets away from Peloton exercise equipment at all times. Before you begin a workout, double check to make sure that the space around your Peloton exercise equipment is clear.

• When you finish a workout on your Tread+, remove the safety key and store it out of reach of children and anyone else who should not be able to start the Tread+.

“We are always looking for new ways to ensure that you have the best experience with our products, and we are currently assessing ways to reinforce our warnings about these critical safety precautions to hopefully prevent future accidents.

“Please reach out to our Member Support Team at 844-410-0141 or reply to this email if you have any questions or concerns. I hope you understand that out of respect for these families and their privacy, we don’t plan to provide any additional information about these accidents.

“Thank you so much for reading. We care deeply about your health and wellness… starting with your safety and the safety of your family.”

John Foley

CEO and Co-Founder

Cox Media Group