Reveller seriously injured after three people thrown from Winter Wonderland ride
A REVELLER was hospitalised after three people fell off a Winter Wonderland ride.
One of the trio suffered serious injuries after they came off the Ice Skater ride with a "massive bang".
Two people were rushed to hospital and one remains there, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
A spokesman for the executive said: "HSE is investigating reports of serious injuries on a ride at Winter Wonderland in Cardiff.
"Three people were thrown from the ride. One currently remains in hospital and is being treated for their injuries."
The trio are understood to have come off the ride at Winter Wonderland in Cardiff at around 5.15pm on Saturday.
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According to eyewitnesses, a number of people fell from the Ice Skater ride after a "massive bang" was heard.
The ride is said to have several clusters of around four seats which spin and move diagonally at speed.
Seren McCallum-Weller, 13, was at the Christmas carnival celebrating her birthday along with her family.
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The teen said she was on the ride with her cousin and lots of other children, when three women came off.
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Seren said she thought one of the woman was knocked unconscious, and she could hear others crying for help.
She said: "We were just having a fun time then we suddenly heard a massive bang.
"We looked behind us and the ride was still going and then we saw a lady on the floor.
"We then saw a second lady who was pushed into the railings and the railings had moved. She was lodged in between the ride and the railings."
Seren said she thought a third woman was "thrown into the railings".
She said: "The ride was slowing down and it came to a stop about one or two minutes after it happened.
"The attendants were trying to stop it straight away. One of the ladies had damaged her head and there was blood."
"I think she possibly broke her ankle as well. I think [one of them] was unconscious.
"I was panicking. I saw one woman get up and as I was leaving I heard one of them crying."
Laura Rogers, 29, said she watched the incident unfold.
She said: "We were playing on the games opposite and we heard a bit of commotion.
"As we looked over we saw all the security running around all frantic.
"As they rushed past us we followed. Then I realised there was an accident on the ride."
I was panicking. I saw one woman get up and as I was leaving I heard one of them crying.
Seren McCallum-Weller
She continued: "They pulled one railing off on the side. I then noticed a lady or girl on the side pinned against it.
"As I walked on I noticed another girl that looked unconscious."
Laura said there were shoes scattered around that appeared to have been thrown off during the horror.
She claimed her mother-in-law spoke to one of the security staff afterward.
The 29-year-old said: "He told her that the bars had flung open…. It was shocking to see for my five-year-old daughter who goes on this ride – also for everyone that had to witness it happening when they only went out for a good time.
"My five-year-old daughter is tall for her age and can ride on it. Someone might not be so lucky next time and I hope the people involved have a speedy recovery."
Winter Wonderland said: "Safety is always a priority for us and a full investigation into the incident is now taking place.
"We, as the event organisers, are working closely with the ride owner/operator and all relevant organisations to investigate.
"The ride will remain closed during this time.”
A spokesman from the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed that two patients were taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff following the incident.
He said: "We had a call at 5.15pm that two patients had reportedly come off a ride at Winter Wonderland.
"We deployed our cycle response team who were in the city centre for the rugby match.
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"A conveying ambulance was requested to take two patients to hospital."
It is understood that Winter Wonderland opened as expected on Sunday, but the Ice Skater ride was not running.
