22 trapped as fairground ride ‘collapses’

A group of thrill seekers have been rescued by firefighters after getting stuck on a fairground ride in Skegness, on the Lincolnshire coast. Source: TWITTER

A group of thrill seekers have been rescued by firefighters after getting stuck on a fairground ride in Skegness, on the Lincolnshire coast. Source: TWITTER

Published Aug 31, 2011

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A woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries on Tuesday night after a fairground ride became stuck in the UK, trapping 22 people for more than an hour.

Firefighters used ropes and ladders to rescue passengers who became lodged at a 90-degree angle on the ride at an amusement park at Skegness Pleasure Beach.

Emergency services were called to the Surf Rider swing at Botton’s Theme Park on the Grand Parade at 3.15pm on Tuesday after reports it had “collapsed”.

A woman was taken to the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire, with life-threatening head injuries.

The ride at the busy Lincolnshire resort swings 360 degrees around a central point but is designed so that passengers remain upright in a normal seated position.

But on Tuesday, the carriage became stuck in a vertical position, leaving passengers hanging on while tipped on their side.

Witness Craig Disley said: “It looked like the ride had snapped on its axle and people were stuck. They were leaning on their side - it looked pretty uncomfortable.”

Park owner Jimmy Botton Jr said the pleasure beach had been closed while the malfunction was investigated.

He added that most of the injuries appeared to be “whiplash”.

The Health and Safety Executive is expected to launch an inquiry. - Daily Mail

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