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A popular children’s ride at the Sydney Royal Easter show has been shut down after a four-year-old boy was found unrestrained seconds before he was flung into the air.
The ‘Free Fall’ ride was moments from launching on Sunday afternoon when onlookers rushed to alert staff that the boy did not have a harness on.
His mother, Sky Boustani Curtis, was forced to watch on in horror as the near disaster unfolded.
‘The (operator) girl stopped the ride but didn’t get out of her booth so another father ended up getting him to climb down to him,’ she told the Daily Telegraph.
The four-year-old boy (pictured far right) was on the Free Fall ride in the Kids Carinal at the Sydney Royal Easter Show without a restraint
‘Myself and my husband were not tall enough to reach him.
‘They simply did not pull his harness down, didn’t check him.’
Mrs Curtis said her son has autism and it was ‘difficult’ to know how he was feeling following the harrowing ordeal.
Another witness said the operator had no idea the child wasn’t secured.
‘They hit emergency stop but it seems like the operator couldn’t bring the ride down and someone actually had to go up there and have his son jump into his arms,’ Eva Levy recalled.
‘Onlookers had to scream for the ride to be stopped.’
Show organisers have launched an urgent investigation into the incident.
‘The safety of patrons at the Show is paramount and we have shut down the kids’ Free Fall ride following a reported issue with a harness,’ a spokeswoman said.
‘The safety systems of the ride functioned well to prevent any injury occurring and the ride will not operate again until a full investigation has been completed and the ride has been approved by specialist engineers.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Sydney Royal Easter Show for comment.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said police were unaware of the incident.
The Free Fall ride is located in the Kids Carnival, where patrons must be at least 110centimetres tall.
‘Take the plunge! The Free Fall is ideal for the young thrill seeker, a controlled drop that simulates the fear of falling – with a gentle stop bringing them safely back to earth,’ the ride description on the show’s website states.
News of incident has sparked horror online with hundreds calling for better training of ride operators.
‘It’s time for ride attendants to get a full dose of training!!!! These rides are huge…..and dangerous….hence the word, THRILL!!! Geez, those safety features are there for a reason!’ one woman wrote on Facebook.
‘No ride should be able to start unless every harness and seat is secure and in place….it should be an automatic process.’
Another added: ‘What is wrong with the operators these days. For heavens sake it’s not hard to make sure the children are strapped in properly. Can’t believe she didn’t even get out of the box to help, people like this should not be able to operate such risky rides.’
Thousands have flocked to the show since the much loved annual event opened on Friday
Princess Anne’s visit on Saturday coincided with the one year anniversary since the death of her father Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip.
Source: Daily Mail
