Water Wiggle Toy Banned After Jon Christopher McCabe’s Death
Water Wiggle, a common toy for toddlers to play has been banned following the death of a boy by choking on it.
Water Wiggle was a popular toy during the 60s and early 70s, manufactured by Wham-O Manufacturing company. The toy was officially released in 1962 and was an instant hit on the toy market.
The company sold a whopping 2.5 million units in the first 17 years of its release. Although from old-fashioned technology, Water Wiggle managed to impress the heart of toddlers and even teenagers.
The toy was simple as it can get. It was comprised of an aluminum water-jet nozzle enveloped by a bell-shaped plastic head and attached by a seven-foot plastic pipe.
The toy was designed for fun bathtime or anything related to water for everyone. It was retailed for around 3.5 USD and was seen in everybody’s houses.
A Children’s Toy Became The Trigger To The Death Of Jon Christopher McCabe: What Happened?
Water Wiggle has been a trigger for the death of Jon Christopher McCabe. Following the death, many protests and lawsuits have been forwarded at full speed.
On the 25th of March, 1978, a 4-year-old boy Jon was enjoying the summer with the water wiggle toy in his backyard with a couple of friends.
The bell-shaped head accidentally came out of the nozzle, and the nozzle got stuck inside the throat of the boy. The 7-year-old brother of Jon immediately turned off the water and rushed to call his parents.
Jon’s father tried everything he could to remove the nozzle and even used a butter knife to cut the hose. However, the stuck nozzle didn’t move an inch.
Unfortunately, the poor boy died of drowning as the water-filled his lungs. Jon Christopher took his last breath in the arms of his father, a dreadful scene nobody imagined.
The Downfall Of The Water Wiggle: Lawsuits Explained
The dreadful death of Jon triggered a million dollars lawsuits against the company responsible for manufacturing the toy.
The parents demanded more than a million for the death of their child, back in the 70s. The researcher also found the fault in the toy which was declared dangerous.
It was hard for Jon’s brother, who wholeheartedly testified about the horrible scene in his backyard. Nonetheless, this is not the first incident related to Water Wiggle.
In 1975, 3 years old Marcus Maloney passed away from an identical Water Wiggle accident. The case was later settled after a lawsuit and monetary settlement.
In 1968, Water Wiggle released a safer and new version of the toy. It never reached its past glory, and the toy is not even listed on the official site of the company.