Kimberley Park, Falmouth razor blades found in play area

A parent discovered the vandalism on Sunday afternoon after going down the slide in the play area in Kimberley Park with his daughter and cutting himself badly on a car headlight bulb which had deliberately been left at the bottom.

Posting on Facebook, Martin Potten said he did not realise he had been cut until his daughter "freaked out" at the amount of blood that had soaked through his trousers.

When he investigated further after contacting the police he says he found sharpened cans hidden under the bark in the landing area and razor blades stuck into gum and placed at points where people were likely to grab.

Warning people to be on their guard last night (Sunday, May 23) Mr Potten said: "Heads up with people that use Kimberley play area especially with young children early this evening as I was playing on the large slide with my daughter.

"I've slid down and landed on a car headlight bulb not realising until I stood up and my daughter freaked out as blood was soaking through my trousers.

"I contacted the police when I realised what had happened and was asked to look to see if there was anything else obvious and we found several cans sharpen just under the bark in landing areas and a few razor/pencil sharpener blades stuck with gum on grab points just be careful out there."

Mr Potten told the Packet he had gone down to the park with his daughter to burn off her "extra energy" before her night tine routine and she had gone down the slide first no problem.

However when he followed her down he had landed on the broken lightbulb.

"I've gone down afterwards with a bit more momentum and landed a bit harder at the bottom of the slide. I've got up a bit sore not thinking anything of it all having a general laugh as you do, then my daughter pointed out 'your bleeding daddy'.

"Then I've touched the back of my trousers and found a little bit of blood on my fingers, my partner then found a head light bulbs at the bottom of the slide.

He said he contacted the police to inform them what had happened and ask what to do and he was asked to see if there was anything else obvious in the area.

"I mentioned the bulb and cans at the time as well as there was a potential group of lads leaving soon after as I was on the phone. Meanwhile my partner was with my daughter getting ready to leave the park. It wasn't until I got home and found blood on my driver's seat and the back of my trousers. I'm fine just a bit sore

He said the other items that were found were some cans that had been squashed and snapped in half then bent so the sharp edges were just under the bark and a single razor/pencil sharpener stuck in place with gum on the slides tower near the top handrail and the light bulb.

Falmouth mayor Steve Eva, who went down to the park himself on the night, described the incident as "frightening" and was meetign with staff about it.

"As soon as I heard about it I visited the park to check every piece of equipment and the ground but found nothing," he said. "A member of the public came over and spoke to me and said the police had been and had a good look around.

He said he had spoken to Simon Penna [grounds maintenance manager] on the phone whilst there, who would have come down but he said he saw little point as he had already checked everything.

"How sad that in this day and age someone so sick can find putting dangerous items in a children’s play area remotely funny," he said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were called at 6.35pm on Sunday, May 22 with a report that a man had been injured by broken glass at Kimberley Park playground in Falmouth.

"The man, in his 30s, received cuts from broken light bulbs after going down the park slide with his young daughter. Police attended and are investigating as to whether the glass was left deliberately.

"Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police via 101@dc.police.uk or by telephone on 101, quoting reference CR/044014/22."