Distressing footage has emerged of a high school cheerleader being forced to do the splits – as she is placed in the position by four people.
In the clip, Ally Wakefield, 13, cries out and begs “please stop” repeatedly.
She can be heard screaming “no, I can’t” as she is held by three fellow students and coach Ozell Williams.
Ally’s mum Kirsten has now spoken out to US TV’s NBC show KUSA about the harrowing incident that took place at East High School in Denver, CO., in June.
She explained that she sent an email, with a video, to the assistant principal on June 15, but an investigation was only launched in August.
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“This is a grown man pushing my 13-year-old girl so hard against her will while she’s crying and screaming for him to stop that he’s ripping tissues in her body,” she alleged.
Ally claims that her leg was injured during the incident.
“It was tearing my ligament and my muscle at the same time,” she said.
“He was pushing down on the back of my right leg. He was pushing like with his other knee on my back to try to keep my posture straight.”
Police are now investigating after the footage – shot on the phones of other teammates – was anonymously sent into KUSA.
Another mum, Cheri Nickolay, claims her daughter quit after being forced to do the splits in a similar manner.
She told KUSA: “I don’t know how you could justify that, it made me sick to my stomach.”
In a statement posted on the school’s website, Superintendent Tom Boasberg said: “This is standard practice in an investigation of this type.
“It does not imply or prejudge in any way the actions of the individuals or what the investigation might determine.
“We absolutely prohibit any practices that place our students’ physical and mental health in jeopardy.
“We do not and will not allow any situation in which a student is forced to perform an activity or exercise beyond the point at which they express their desire to stop.”
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Ally’s father, Eric Wakefield, told The New York Times that she is being bullied online by classmates, teammates, and trolls, and hasn’t been able to sleep since the videos emerged.
He added that he’s considering legal action.