A pair of £25.99 wide-leg trousers from Zara, dubbed the 'death trousers' on social media, have sent shoppers to hospital with broken ribs, fractured elbows and gashes. Curious about the hype, Niamh Kirk, a Features Writer, tried them on – and tripped within minutes.
Long, flowy and comfortable at first glance, the trousers are made from slippery fabric with an elasticated waist. At just 5'3, Kirk expected the length to be an issue, but the excess fabric dragged on the floor, creating a major trip hazard. Walking upstairs, she stood on the hem, pulling the waistband down. A quick stroll down her street ended with her tripping over the fabric.
Shoppers share horror stories
Lauren Hunter, 34, from Cumbria, ended up with suspected broken ribs after wearing hers. On her way to meet her mum for lunch, a gust of wind caught the loose fabric, causing her to crash into the pavement. She said: "It happened right outside my work crossing the road – luckily none of my colleagues saw! It was a breezy day and the wind caught the wide-leg part of the trousers. My sandals got caught in them, causing me to fall flat on my face in the middle of the road." She landed heavily on her handbag, cracking her ribs and suffering cuts to her knees, hands, and nose. The doctor suspected a broken rib, and it took three weeks to recover. She has vowed not to wear them again.
Bev Finch from Essex needed two operations, a metal plate and screws after a similar fall. She recalled: "I was walking to the dentist when the trousers wrapped around my trainers and took my feet clean away. I fell face-down onto concrete in the middle of a pedestrian crossing with cars approaching." Bleeding heavily with a swollen lip, three strangers helped her up. At the hospital, she had a displaced complex fracture of the elbow. Two years later, she is still recovering from the physical pain and trauma.
Expert advice on preventing falls
Physiotherapist Harvey Slade, a sports injury specialist at The Rehab Coach, explained that trips like these frequently lead to severe upper-body injuries. He said: "We have lots of shoulder injuries where people put their arms out to save themselves from hitting their face. They end up with cartilage damage to the shoulder joint." He recommends working on balance and proprioception, but for most shoppers, the simplest solution might be getting the hem taken up. Zara has been approached for comment.
