An 18-year-old woman has been injured after falling from a fairground ride in Worthing, West Sussex.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:30pm on Thursday evening, with the ride remaining closed since.
The woman’s injuries were today described as as “minor” and including bruising to the eye, after initial media reports claimed serious head and ankle injuries had been sustained.
The attraction concerned is the Rocker flat ride, which is currently located on Worthing seafront as part of a travelling funfair in place for the Easter period.
A local police spokesman was quoted in the Worthing Herald newspaper as saying: “Police were called to Marine Parade at 9.30pm to a report of a medical incident.
“A teenager had fallen from one of the rides and was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has begun an investigation, the results of which are unlikely to be known for several months.
Investigation
Worthing Council director for communities John Mitchell said: “Following an accident on a fairground ride at Worthing seafront last night, our thoughts are with the woman injured in the accident and her family.
“We wish her a full and speedy recovery. We are grateful to the emergency services who attended the scene promptly.
“The fairground ride operators and Worthing Borough Council will fully co-operate with the Health and Safety Executive and relevant authorities into the investigation that will take place.
“In the meantime, the ride will remain closed until HSE clearance is received to re-open the ride. At the current time we are unable to confirm when the investigation will be completed.”
The Worthing Liberal Democrat Councillors’ website said that the Herald newspaper approached fairground operator Bill Coles for further comment but was referred to the council’s statement.