In the crush for the latest McDonald's soft-toy offer, at least seven people were hurt by the shattering of a glass door at its outlet in Block 22, Boon Keng Road, yesterday morning. The injured were among the many eager to lay their hands on the soft-toy pair of Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel in Korean wedding costume.
The weight of those pushing against the glass door had shattered it and showered splinters onto those within reach.
Three men were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for outpatient treatment and at least four others were hurt.
A spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force said that someone had called just before 8.30am yesterday, requesting help at the outlet.
When SCDF officers turned up there, they found three men with multiple cuts on their bodies and foreheads.
The three men who were taken to hospital were later discharged.
McDonald's Restaurants told The Straits Times yesterday that as part of its crowd-control measures, Cisco officers will be stationed at all 113 outlets here from next Thursday. The fast-food chain will also set a limit on the number of soft toys patrons can purchase.
From today, they can buy only up to four stuffed toys. Each toy can be bought for $4.50 with every purchase of a set meal.
On yesterday's incident, a McDonald's spokesman said: "We are very sorry that the euphoria surrounding the Hello Kitty promotion has led to such an incident. Safety of our customers is of grave concern and we appeal to all customers to keep calm and follow the directions of our staff."
It was the second incident reported this year since the start of the 40-day Hello Kitty promotion, which began on New Year's Day. Two weeks ago, Mr Jason So, 31, a private practitioner, and Mr See Chet Ping, 45, a lorry driver, had a fight at the McDonald's outlet in Boon Lay Place.
During a Straits Times' check yesterday on various McDonald's restaurants islandwide, long queues were seen, with up to a hundred people crowding each of the busier outlets. At the one in Boat Quay, at least 70 were lining up despite the afternoon drizzle.
And there were traffic jams at the McDonald's drive-in outlets at King Albert Park and East Coast Parkway.
A police spokesman said the situation is being monitored.
GoodBye Kitty Hello Kitty! Hello riots! Be careful what you give away for free is the moral of this story, because when the 113 McDonalds restaurants in Singapore offered to give away adorable Hello Kitty dolls in wedding dresses, but ran low on supplies, all hell broke loose. Windows were smashed, people were hurt and a doctor and truck driver were arrested for fist-fighting over one precious doll. Hello lawsuits! Hello jail! Kitty and Pokmon are probably having a good laugh over this somewhere in cartoonland. |
