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Recall issued for popular treadmill after child dies

Peloton has recalled more than approximately 125,000 of its treadmills after previously claiming their equipment was not dangerous.

There have been injuries to at least 29 people and a child has died.

The company said it would now offer full refunds for the Peloton Tread+ treadmills.

They retail for more than $US4,200 ($5,400). It will also stop selling them.

The recall follows after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission warned on April 17 that owners of the Tread+ treadmill with children and pets should immediately stop using them.

The warning came after a six-year-old child died after being pulled under the machine.


Peleton initially denied the safety commission, saying the warning was "inaccurate and misleading" and there was no reason to stop using the machines.

Company chief executive John Foley also said at the time he had "no intention" of recalling the treadmills.

However, a little less than a month later, Mr Foley apologised and said the company "made a mistake" in their initial response to the safety commission.

Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes, but it introduced treadmills about three years ago.

In the last three months of 2020, Peleton brought in $US1 billion ($1.3 billion) in revenue due to most gyms being closed throughout the year in response to COVID-19.

Peloton said it received 72 reports of adults, kids, pets or other items, such as exercise balls, being pulled under the treadmill.

29 of those reports were of children who suffered injuries, including broken bones, cuts and the one fatality.

Joseph Martyak, a spokesman at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said it appeared the design of the machine could make it more likely to pull people, pets and items under the machine than other brands of treadmills.

A full refund is being offered until November 6 from Peloton.

Peloton said they would move the treadmill free of charge if the owner did not want to get rid of it, to a room where children or pets could not access it.

Peloton said it would also update the software so a passcode was required to unlock it.

Images: Peleton

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Peleton, health, treatmill, legal