Two people were hospitalised after reportedly 'coming off' a ride at a 'Winter Wonderland' event. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a 'massive bang' and said a number of people appeared to fall from the Ice Skater ride in Cardiff city centre on Saturday.
The Welsh Ambulance service confirmed they were called to the Showpiece event in the Welsh capital's Civic Quarter and that two people were taken to hospital.
Seren McCallum-Weller, 13, who was at the event celebrating her birthday along with her family, said she saw a number of people on the floor and that the experience left her feeling panicked.
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"I was on the Ice Skater ride with my cousin," she told Wales Online. "We were just having a fun time, then we suddenly heard a massive bang. I didn't know what it was.
"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.
"I think a third lady was also thrown into the railings. There were a few children on the ride who were no older than 11 or 12."
The ride involves several clusters of around four seats which spin and move diagonally "very fast" Seren said. She said staff tried to stop the ride as soon as they could but it took a few minutes to slow down.
"The ride was slowing down and it came to a stop about one or two minutes after it happened," she said. "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. I hope the ladies are okay.
"You see things like this happen on YouTube and hear them happening to other people but it's scary when it happens to you. It has scared me and I'm giving theme parks and rides a miss in the future."
Laura Rogers from Pontypridd was visiting Winter Wonderland with her family when she also saw the incident unfold. The 29-year-old 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.
"We noticed they rushed to a cabin. They then left with some sort of medical bag. As they rushed past us we followed. Then I realised there was an accident on the ride.
"Then 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.
"There were shoes on the floor that seemed to be flown off during this time. I stood for a little while and then I noticed one of the security staff talking to my mother-in-law.
"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" she added. "Someone might not be so lucky next time and I hope the people involved have a speedy recovery."
A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service 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. A conveying ambulance was requested to take two patients to hospital."
It is understood that Winter Wonderland opened as expected on Sunday, November 27, but the Ice Skater ride is not running.
Winter Wonderland, Cardiff Council, and the Health and Safety Executive have been contacted for comment.
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