Organisers of Sydney’s Royal Easter Show have shut down a ride and launched an investigation after a four-year-old boy was not secured to his seat.
An image posted to social media appears to show the freefall ride had begun with a young boy on the end seat sitting with his harness still raised above his head, while other riders’ harnesses were locked down. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon.
Sky Boutsani Curtis, the boy’s mother, told the Daily Telegraph that the ride was stopped when onlookers shouted to alert the operator about the issue.
Curtis said neither she nor her husband were tall enough to reach their son after it had stopped, and another father at the scene had to ask him to climb down from his seat so he could collect him.
Eva Grace posted an image of the incident on Facebook on Sunday as a warning to other parents to be careful. “Make sure you’re watching the way they strap your child into a ride,” she posted.
In a statement released on Sunday night, the Sydney Royal Easter Show announced the ride would be closed as the incident was investigated.
“‘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,” the statement 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.”
On its website, the Sydney Royal Easter Show describes the Free Fall ride as “a controlled drop that simulates the fear of falling” with “a gentle stop bringing them safely back to earth”.
In March, a 14-year-old fell to his death on a freefall ride at a Florida amusement park, after he slid out of his seat, with his safety harness allegedly above his head, not securely buckled.
