Gasps, screams at Ferris Wheel fright

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Gasps, screams at Ferris Wheel fright

Saturday, October 13, 2012 • Debbie Gregory

BYSTANDERS thought horror was about to unfold when they watched a Ferris Wheel ride go a little askew at the A&P Spring Show yesterday morning.

One of two witnesses who spoke to The Herald said a woman was not enjoying a ride on the Ferris Wheel with her young son and went round one full circuit. As she approached the bottom she asked to get off and if her daughter could accompany the child.

The person operating the safety bar said yes and lifted the bar. The woman got out but as her teenage daughter was getting in, the ride started.

“She had one foot in and it started going. She lurched forward and got hold of the car, and was swinging there one leg in and one leg out as it went up. It was over halfway up before she managed to haul herself into the car,” the witness said.

“Everyone was yelling and pointing. There were gasps and screams.

“They didn’t stop it or anything. It just went round and round.”

Mahon Amusements’ John Mahon said the operator of the Ferris Wheel told him the teenage girl did get into the car and at that point he bumped the emergency stop button.

“This puts the ride into freewheel so it can stop safely.”

The bar on the car came down by force of gravity.

The operator spoke to the people involved in the incident and there were no problems, Mr Mahon said.

However, apart from that and another incident when a two-year-old boy was injured in the Crazy Circus, it was a very good “childrens’ day”.

This morning the high winds were threatening whether the new Turbo Boost ride would be going.

“If it stays windy we may well not be putting that up today.”

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