A teenage boy who died in a "serious incident" at a funfair had scaled fencing to get into the closed site and climbed to the top of a ride, locals have said.
Emergency crews were called to Pencester Gardens in Dover at around 7.45am today - when the fair was reportedly still closed.
The site was hosting the Family Funfair run by Kent-based Forrest Amusements which, according to a poster, was due to open to the public on Wednesday.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) confirmed that a teenage boy was found deceased at the scene.
Locals said they had heard a group of around six youngsters had climbed over fencing on the perimeter to get into the funfair grounds.
The youngster who died was aged around 14, one local said, although this had not been confirmed by police.
Catherine Dennison, 75, a retired P&O ferry worker who lives close to the park said she heard an “unusual” number of sirens this morning.
She came out of her house to see what was going on and saw a fleet of emergency vehicles near the park.
She said: “I spoke to a young boy who said he had watched it happen.
“He said a boy was climbing up on the frame of a ride and his friends were telling him to get down, but he didn’t listen and then the boy lost his footing.
“He was 14 apparently."
A spokesperson from Kent Police said they could not provide the age of the deceased, as this was the responsibility of the coroner. They did, however, confirm it was a teenager who had died..
Catherine, who had worked on the ferries as an interpreter added: “It's so awful. I feel so sorry for his mother, his father, and his friends who saw it."
The ride where the tragedy took place is thought to be called Body Count, according to local residents.
Sarah Rogers, 51, who lives nearby said: “The kids climbed over the fence into the funfair and then the boy was on the ride called Body Count.
“He went up to the top of it and fell off, apparently.
“It's absolutely terrible."
Laura Haley, 42, who has lived nearby for eight years said the incident was “sad and shocking”.
The SECAmb said they were called at 7.42am on Wednesday afternoon to a serious incident at Pencester Gardens in Dover.
"We immediately dispatched a number of clinical resources to the scene, including our HART team and Critical Care Paramedics, however, sadly, a teenage boy was pronounced as deceased at the scene.”
A spokesman for Forrest Amusements has now spoken out following the boy's death.
A spokesman said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic incident which occurred this morning at one of our funfair events in Pencester Gardens, Dover.
"Kent Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner. The Health and Safety Executive has attended the scene along with the emergency services."
A Kent Police spokesman confirmed the force attended the incident but said no suspicious circumstances have been reported.
The trader association for the fairground and show community has confirmed the funfair was shut at the time of the teenage boy's death.
The industry body extended its sympathies to the family of the person involved.
President of The Showmen's Guild, John Thurston, said: "The Showmen’s Guild is aware of an incident that has occurred at Dover, in Kent, where we understand that a person has lost their life, in the early hours of Wednesday, August 3 when the fair was closed prior to its official opening.
"The HSE, as the body that oversees the regulation of safety at funfairs, is currently investigating the circumstances that led to this tragic event.
"Our thoughts are with the family of the person involved.
"As the investigation is currently taking place, we are unable to comment further at this time."
A Dover District Council spokesman said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic incident early this morning in Pencester Gardens in Dover.
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the teenage boy involved.”
