A TEENAGER says she will never try squeezing into a baby swing again after firefighters had to prise one from her behind.
Ciara Mclean, 14, of Maltings Road, Great Baddow, was trapped in the East Hanningfield play area apparatus for nearly an hour after a friend dared her to get in.
While the charity which paid for the swings is struggling to see the funny side, and may seek compensation to pay for a replacement, the youngsters spent the ordeal in hysterics.
Ciara was out in Hanna's Field, just off The Tye, with friends on Sunday, May 4, when 16-year-old Jordan Knight challenged her.
"My mate asked if I would like to be pushed in the swing but then I couldn't get out," said Ciara, who goes to The Sandon School.
"I could only get into some of it so my mate helped me get down into the swing, then I had to clench a few muscles and I got in after about five minutes.
"I was kind of laughing, I found it kind of funny but I thought 'what am I going to do now? How am I going to get out?' So me and my mates said 'shall we just call the fire service'?
"My mate's dad got the chains off the swing but we couldn't get the swing off me.
"It really hurt because I had to stay in that sitting position and keep my back straight. They had to get their tools under my legs to cut through it to get me out.
"When they got me out I literally laid down while people started laughing. I was really happy and we all started laughing and I thanked the firemen."
The three firefighters, while another crew member stood watching, freed her in no more than 25 minutes, finishing their operation at 12.39pm.
Their call-out came during a weekend of strike action in which crews attended 30 incidents which included saving four people trapped in a lift in Southend.
Ciara, who has salvaged the broken swing as a souvenir, said: "I'm one of those people who will do anything, but I know I will definitely not try and get into one again. I am not really embarrassed because I have posted it on Facebook. I just found it really funny."
Her mother Ruth Miller's first reaction was to laugh when she heard what had happened.
Ruth said: "Hopefully I don't get charged for it though. When it comes to baby swings, that's why they're called baby swings."
East Hanningfield Parish Council clerk Karen Plumridge said Hanna's Field Charity, the organisation set up to fund the play area and village hall, may seek compensation.
"The charity in the first instance may make an amicable approach to the family and say it would be nice if you can replace the swing," said Mrs Plumridge, who estimates the seat alone cost about £100. "We're not talking pocket money here, we're talking quite serious money which the charity doesn't have access to in order to replace equipment."
