An 18-year-old girl has been left with potentially life-changing head injuries after an incident on a fairground ride at the Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show on Saturday night. Police said the teenager was taken to hospital following the accident, which occurred at around 10.50pm.
A witness who helped administer first aid described scenes of "shock and panic" at the event. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she initially did not realise the severity of the situation until the victim's friends alerted her. "It's very shocking it could happen on a fairground ride that young children go on. This must never happen again," she added.
The ride's owner, Charles Cole, said the girl's hair became trapped on the Fun House attraction, a walk-through ride that had been in operation for around 20 years. He described the incident as a "freak accident", noting that the ride had passed daily safety checks and that around 50 people had used it without issue beforehand. "Nobody wants to hurt anyone, and we are a family business. Safety is our priority, and we sympathise with the girl and her parents," he told the Daily Echo.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed they are liaising with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over the incident. An HSE spokesperson said the matter is being locally enforced in partnership with the police.
Despite the incident, the show remained open on Sunday, with organisers posting on Facebook: "We are open and look forward to seeing you all!" The event's organisers have been approached for further comment.
