'I'M TRAUMATISED'
Six injured as Fairground ride ‘flew out of control’ with kids covered in ‘blood’ & metal ‘launched into air’
SIX people, including three children, have been taken to hospital after a fairground ride flew out of control at Planet Fun in Northern Ireland.
Witnesses have told how they are "traumatised" after young children were pulled from the ride covered in blood while pieces of metal were launched into the air.
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Cassie Flemming, 23, from West Belfast had been at the funfair in Carrickfergus on a day out with her uncles, aunts and two young brothers.
She saw the horror incident unfold just after she had been on the ride with her eight-year-old brother.
She told The Sun: “My youngest brother and I had just gotten off that ride. When we were on it it was fine, there were no problems.
“We were just standing in front of it when the other people got on - the next minute the ride just malfunctioned.
“Instead of going straight up to its full height it only went up around two metres.
“So when it started swinging it started hitting all of the stands and lights that surrounded it.
“People were hitting off all of the metal stands around it and then people started getting swung all around each other.
“The swings were all held by lines and they all snapped so everybody was just screaming. It was horrific."
As staff scrambled to stop the ride Cassie bravely ran to aid its passengers.
One little girl's leg was bleeding really, really badly.
Witness Cassie Flemming
She explained: “The man who was running the ride started running by us trying to stop itand I jumped over and tried to grab some of the swings to try and stop them from trying to bump into other people.
“There were wee tots on them, maybe only six or seven years old.
“They were terrified. They finally got the ride to stop but the steps going up to the ride were flying all over and I had to run and get my little brothers out the way because there was debris flying from it - metal, everything, you name it, it was flying from it.
“Then everyone ran to the exit but there were people blocking the exit because everyone wanted their money back so we were stuck and we saw everything.
“There was a little girl, I think she was with her big brother and he had to carry her off. Her leg was bleeding really, really, badly like profusely from her thigh.
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“There was a man holding his neck - he had complete whiplash. He had to be lifted out of the seat.
“There was a young girl, maybe about nine, she had a panic attack and not one person was helping her off it so I went over to try and get her off it and I was shouting for a man or someone to get her off it because I wasn't able to lift her.
“We finally got her off it but it was absolutely the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life."
Including the three children six people have been taken to hospital but it's understood that the injuries are not life threatening.
'HORRIFIC'
Cassie continued: “The staff didn't know what to do. Everyone was shouting for medical help.
“You would think there would be staff that were medically trained but no one knew anything. It was honestly horrific.
“They were shouting at us to get out but the entrances were blocked with people.
“It was the worst experience I’ve ever seen, witnessed, experienced in my entire life.
“I’m just thankful to god that I wasn’t on that ride. My family and I are all traumatised.
“Honestly the kids’ legs could have all been chopped off because the metal things broke in half and then the way they were hanging and the way that they swung.”
A spokesperson for Planet Fun said: “Shortly after 18:00 this evening, the emergency procedures on our Star Flyer ride were enacted following an incident. At no stage did the ride collapse.
“We immediately sought assistance from the NI Ambulance Service.
“We have also reported the incident to the HSE and will co-operate fully with the agency to understand exactly what happened.
“Health and safety is central to all operations at Planet Fun and will offer whatever assistance is required to those customers affected.”
Northern Ireland's Health Minister Robin Swann said in a statement: "Our blue light services have responded to an incident tonight at a funfair in Carrick, it was reported that a ride at the fair collapsed and there were several casualties.
"A number of people, inc. children were taken to hospital and thankfully none have life threatening injuries.
"My thoughts are with all who have been injured and affected by this incident.
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"I wish everyone a speedy recovery and I want to sincerely thank the ambulance, paramedics and fire crews that responded so rapidly to what could have been something more tragic."
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Earlier the fairground wrote on Facebook: "Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances Planet Fun will be closed tonight for the 7.30pm-10.30pm session.
"All tickets will automatically be refunded."
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