A Colorado mom says she woke up to find her 3-year-old little girl stuck inside a brand-new washing machine the family had just bought, which was turned on and in the process of filling with water.

ABC reports that when Lindsey McIver woke up one morning last week, she found her 4-year-old son crying and gasping as he tried to explain that his little sister Chloe was stuck inside the family’s front-loading washing machine.

“As I was trying to understand what he was saying, my husband flew out of bed and down the stairs,” McIver explained. “It was then that the realization hit. He had said: Kloe. Inside. Washer.”

As McIver rushed to the washer, her fears were confirmed when she saw her little girl inside the washer that was quickly filling up with water. McIver tried pulling washing machine’s door open but it was locked.

“It was tumbling and filling with water. She was screaming but you couldn’t hear her.”

McIver said she had just purchased the brand new washer; she hadn’t used it yet and didn’t know how to operate all the functions. With the help of her husband, McIver managed to get the door unlocked and pulled the child to safety. The scary experience prompted to McIver to warn others.

She posted her story on Facebook, although she was hesitant because she didn’t want to be “mom shamed” for the incident. In the end she decided that warning parents of the potential dangers of front-loading washers was worth the risk.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100688578446484&set=a.573603188864.2100414.141302599&type=3&theater

“I post this because I can honestly say we did not realize the danger of this machine. We are continually surprised at the new, inventive ways our kids come up with to try and die. And this was definitely a new one.”

“This is the season for swimming pool accidents and kids being left in hot cars and all sorts of other horrible accidents,” McIver continued. “And that’s what most of them are. Accidents. Shaming the mom doesn’t do anyone any good. We need to be open and honest about our mistakes to help one another keep our kids safe. And trust me, that mom is already beating herself up enough.”

McIver now makes use of the washer’s child lock feature and urges all parents to be proactive with watching their children, especially if they buy a new, unfamiliar appliance.

[Feature Photo: Facebook]