Woman fighting for life in hospital after fair ride ‘collapses sending people flying’

A woman in her 40s is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a funfair ride at one of London’s largest community festivals ‘collapsed’.

Emergency services were called to Lambeth Country Show at Brockwell Park, south London, on Saturday evening.

A man also in his 40s is being treated for ‘potentially life-threatening injuries’, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

A police spokesperson provided an update on the two others injured and said: ‘The man in his 50s and the 11-year-old girl have both been discharged from hospital.

‘Officers have attended the scene today alongside the Health and Safety Executive as inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.’

The Lambeth Country Show reopened on Sunday, but rides remain cordoned off.

A ride topped with a giant frog is among those which could be seen behind tall black fencing today.

Signs saying ‘apologies for any inconvenience, this ride will not open today’ have been pinned to wire fencing which circles the fairground area.

A spokesperson for Lambeth Council said: ‘Following this incident, and to allow a full investigation, funfair rides at the show will be impacted by closures for the second day of the country show.’

Exactly what happened remains unclear amid an investigation, with a patchwork of witness reports describing a scene ‘like a horror movie’.

Fairgoers told MailOnline that a ride ‘failed’, which sent people ‘flying through the air’.

One told the tabloid: ‘It was horrific. The screams were terrible. Four people flew off and went through the air.

‘It was like a horror movie.’

A second eyewitness said: ‘People were running towards us and crying and screaming.

‘Saw a lady with blood streaming down her face. She had paramedics carrying her off the ride.’

Police confirmed no one was trapped in the ride – neither police nor council officials have confirmed which ride suffered the reported malfunction.

‘Enquiries are underway to establish the circumstances. Cordons are in place at the location,’ the force added.

Ambulance services confirmed four people were taken to major trauma centres. Their conditions are unclear.

A council spokesperson said: ‘The incident was reported at around 6.20pm today (June 8) and emergency services were quickly on the scene to treat four people who were injured.

‘Paramedics and on-site teams cordoned off the area and those who were injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for further treatment.

‘The situation is being closely monitored. The area around the ride is secure and the funfair has been closed.

‘A thorough investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the malfunction.

‘Additional safety inspections are being carried out on all rides and attractions at the show.

‘We thank the emergency services for their swift response and dedication. The safety and well-being of our visitors remain our top priority.’

Described as the ‘jewel’ in the borough’s annual calendar, the Lambeth Country Show typically sees some 120,000 attend the weekend fairground.

This weekend is the 50th time the country show has been held, with a Monday news release saying ‘the council has worked really hard to keep it going, to make it a safe event and to keep it as a free event because we know how much it means to our residents’.

‘It has been months in the planning,’ it added.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.