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| Woking fireworks: Eight children hurt in fall from inflatable slide | Woking fireworks: Eight children hurt in fall from inflatable slide |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An investigation has begun after eight children fell from an inflatable slide at a fireworks display. | |
| Woking Park in Surrey was evacuated and a major incident declared after the children - all under the age of 16 - fell at about 19:30 GMT on Saturday. | |
| Seven were discharged from hospital overnight, with an eighth kept in for observation, with injuries "not believed to be significant". | |
| The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating. | The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating. |
| The site was evacuated at about 20:00 to allow the helicopter to land and "multiple crews" from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) to help the injured. | The site was evacuated at about 20:00 to allow the helicopter to land and "multiple crews" from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) to help the injured. |
| Police initially described the incident as the collapse of a helter skelter ride, but corrected their report to describe it as a "giant inflatable slide" . | Police initially described the incident as the collapse of a helter skelter ride, but corrected their report to describe it as a "giant inflatable slide" . |
| One eyewitness told BBC News correspondent Simon Clemison there were "about 40 children" on the slide, which is about 30ft (9m) high when fully inflated. | One eyewitness told BBC News correspondent Simon Clemison there were "about 40 children" on the slide, which is about 30ft (9m) high when fully inflated. |
| Chris Tierney said he removed his three children from the slide "a couple of minutes before the incident" as he "felt the slide had become overcrowded". | Chris Tierney said he removed his three children from the slide "a couple of minutes before the incident" as he "felt the slide had become overcrowded". |
| He said his daughter was "getting bundled on by bigger children... kids were getting injured and crying. It was a disaster waiting to happen." | He said his daughter was "getting bundled on by bigger children... kids were getting injured and crying. It was a disaster waiting to happen." |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| By Tom Pugh, BBC News | By Tom Pugh, BBC News |
| Amid the merry-go-rounds, win-a-prize stalls and bumper cars at Woking Park lies the deflated inflatable at the centre of Saturday night's incident. | Amid the merry-go-rounds, win-a-prize stalls and bumper cars at Woking Park lies the deflated inflatable at the centre of Saturday night's incident. |
| The park remained sealed off on Sunday morning as police maintained a low-key presence at the scene. | The park remained sealed off on Sunday morning as police maintained a low-key presence at the scene. |
| One witness, Andy Datson, 23, described seeing children being tended to by emergency crews. | One witness, Andy Datson, 23, described seeing children being tended to by emergency crews. |
| Another described hearing an announcement over the public-address system which first alerted visitors to a "serious" incident. | Another described hearing an announcement over the public-address system which first alerted visitors to a "serious" incident. |
| Thousands of people are said to have been here on Saturday night to enjoy what should have been a fun night. | Thousands of people are said to have been here on Saturday night to enjoy what should have been a fun night. |
| Later, scene-of-crime officers arrived at Woking Park to carry out inquiries. | |
| At first, Secamb said it had treated six children but later confirmed the number was eight. | |
| All the children injured were aged under 16, South East Coast Ambulance said. | |
| Those taken to London hospitals were treated at St George's Hospital and King's College Hospital, while one was treated at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, a spokeswoman said. | |
| The fireworks display was abandoned shortly after the children were injured. | The fireworks display was abandoned shortly after the children were injured. |
| Eyewitness Oliver Trimble told the BBC a message went over the event's loudspeakers announcing the evacuation shortly before 20:00. | Eyewitness Oliver Trimble told the BBC a message went over the event's loudspeakers announcing the evacuation shortly before 20:00. |
| He said he saw victims being treated by medics, adding: "It was quite a horrendous sight to see. | He said he saw victims being treated by medics, adding: "It was quite a horrendous sight to see. |
| "This is one of Woking's biggest events of the year, thousands of people come to see the fireworks," he said. | "This is one of Woking's biggest events of the year, thousands of people come to see the fireworks," he said. |
| Local musician Anna Neale said she had planned to take her daughters, aged 10 and six, on the giant slide after the fireworks. | Local musician Anna Neale said she had planned to take her daughters, aged 10 and six, on the giant slide after the fireworks. |
| "We saw all the blue lights and saw the air ambulance arriving. We all evacuated very calmly. Everyone was just shocked," the 36-year-old said. | "We saw all the blue lights and saw the air ambulance arriving. We all evacuated very calmly. Everyone was just shocked," the 36-year-old said. |
| Event organisers Woking District Rotary Club tweeted: "We are all very shocked and distressed by events in the funfair. | Event organisers Woking District Rotary Club tweeted: "We are all very shocked and distressed by events in the funfair. |
| "We are focussing in assisting the emergency services in dealing with the injured children. | "We are focussing in assisting the emergency services in dealing with the injured children. |
| "Our thoughts are with the children and their families at the moment," it added. | "Our thoughts are with the children and their families at the moment," it added. |
| The park will remain closed on Sunday as police investigate the cause of the incident, the club added. | The park will remain closed on Sunday as police investigate the cause of the incident, the club added. |
| Officers have appealed for any eyewitnesses or those with video or photos of what happened to contact them. | Officers have appealed for any eyewitnesses or those with video or photos of what happened to contact them. |
| Mark John, from Airquee, an organisation that inspects inflatables, said the items should go through rigorous checks to ensure they are safe. | Mark John, from Airquee, an organisation that inspects inflatables, said the items should go through rigorous checks to ensure they are safe. |
| "Inspections can take anything from a minimum of 45 minutes right up to several hours," he said. | "Inspections can take anything from a minimum of 45 minutes right up to several hours," he said. |
| "As people are aware lately there's a lot of emphasis on making sure the anchor points are in place and intact as they should be for protection against gusts of wind or strong winds." | "As people are aware lately there's a lot of emphasis on making sure the anchor points are in place and intact as they should be for protection against gusts of wind or strong winds." |
| Joe Mercer, general secretary of the Showmen's Guild, told the BBC: "This slide has up-to-date test certificates and insurance documents, these have been provided to police. Our members are fully co-operating with the authorities; no arrests have been made." | Joe Mercer, general secretary of the Showmen's Guild, told the BBC: "This slide has up-to-date test certificates and insurance documents, these have been provided to police. Our members are fully co-operating with the authorities; no arrests have been made." |
| He added: "Members of the Showmen's Guild operate equipment at fairs to strict safety standards that are subject to HSE scrutiny. Our thoughts are with those affected by this incident." | He added: "Members of the Showmen's Guild operate equipment at fairs to strict safety standards that are subject to HSE scrutiny. Our thoughts are with those affected by this incident." |
| A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "We are aware and making initial enquiries." | A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "We are aware and making initial enquiries." |
| Woking Fireworks tweeted it was "really pleased" the injuries were "not as serious as first feared". | Woking Fireworks tweeted it was "really pleased" the injuries were "not as serious as first feared". |
| It said it would meet shortly to "agree next steps". | It said it would meet shortly to "agree next steps". |
| Have you been affected by the inflatable slide collapse? Tell us about your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by the inflatable slide collapse? Tell us about your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |