US regulators have warned people to stop using a Peloton treadmill if they have children or pets.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says it has received dozens of reports of children and animals being pulled underneath the Tread+ machine and becoming trapped.
One child has died, and others have been left with injuries including broken bones, cuts and bruises.
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The safety commission said one child became pinned under the treadmill while one of their parents was running on it, which suggests they are dangerous even under the supervision of an adult.
Peloton Interactive Inc said the warning was “inaccurate and misleading” and that the machines are safe providing children and animals are kept away from them at all times.
The regulator warns that if families in the US want to continue using their Tread+, they should keep it unplugged and in a locked room.
It also suggested keeping it separate from exercise balls and other objects as they have also been known to become trapped underneath.
Peloton announced a child had died after an accident with a Tread+ device in March.
Peloton’s Tread+ machine costs around £2,800. Pic: Peloton
It provided no details on when and where the incident took place, or the age of the child, but said in a statement: “There are no words to express the shock and sadness everyone at Peloton feels as a result of this terrible tragedy.
“Out of respect for the family and their privacy, we won’t be sharing any additional information.”
Peloton is most famous for its exercise bike and live fitness class subscription service.
The brand’s treadmill costs around $4,000 (£2,890).
Sales have soared during the coronavirus pandemic, with the firm accumulating £1bn in revenue in the last three months of 2020 – more than double what it was during the same period the year before.