Pensioner, 79, breaks both wrists and is left needing an operation before Christmas after teenage girls hit escalator emergency stop as a ‘prank’

Unnamed victim suffered serious injuries as a result of the incident at a Stockport branch of the supermarket

The incident took place at a branch of Asda in Stockport, Greater Manchester (PAUL BARKER/AFP/Getty Images)

An elderly woman broke both her wrists while travelling on an escalator in an Asda store when two teenage girls allegedly switched the machine off as a prank.

The unnamed 79-year-old suffered serious injuries, including multiple broken bones and cuts that required 15 stitches, as a result of the incident at the supermarket in Stockport, Greater Manchester. She also faces an emergency operation before Christmas.

The victim is said to have been travelling on the escalator when somebody pressed the emergency stop button, causing the machine to halt abruptly and throw the elderly woman down the steps.

Two teenage girls are understood to have been standing close by at the time and detectives say they would now like to speak to them in relation to the incident.

Please find some Christmas spirit and help me find the people that did this to my mum

&#13; <p>- Victim's daughter</p>&#13;

Writing about the ordeal on Facebook, the victim’s daughter said: "At about 6:30 on Friday the 18th December my 79 year old mum was coming down the escalator in Asda Stockport when two girls believed to be in their high teens decided to hit the emergency stop button sending my mum flying down the escalator from tithe top.”

"She has been left with 2 broken arms which need operations on to fix,15 stitches in her face and stitches to her legs plus multiple bruises. Please find some Christmas spirit and help me find the people that did this to my mum. Thank you.x,” she added.

Asda staff called paramedics to the supermarket to treat the victim and are now assisting Greater Manchester Police in their investigation into the incident, according to the Daily Mail.

Detective Sergeant Geoff Machent said: “From what we have been told, we believe two women in their late teens were seen near to the emergency stop button at the time it was stopped and I would ask them to come forward.

“At this moment in time, we think this may have been a prank that has gone wrong, leaving an elderly woman in hospital…. She is due an operation soon and she, along with her family, is hoping she will be at home for Christmas,” he added.

Witnesses and anybody with information relating to the incident have been asked to call police on 0161 856 9747, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.