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| Woking fireworks: Eight children hurt in fall from inflatable slide | Woking fireworks: Eight children hurt in fall from inflatable slide |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An investigation is under way after eight children fell from an inflatable slide at a fireworks display. | An investigation is under way 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. | 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". | 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. |
| Fireworks organiser Michael Holden, of Woking District Rotary, said it appeared the children had fallen to the ground from the top of the slide. | Fireworks organiser Michael Holden, of Woking District Rotary, said it appeared the children had fallen to the ground from the top of the slide. |
| He said: "We don't still know yet what exactly happened but eight children appear to have come off near the top of the slide and landed on the floor alongside it." | He said: "We don't still know yet what exactly happened but eight children appear to have come off near the top of the slide and landed on the floor alongside it." |
| He estimated about 5,000 people were in the park at the time. | He estimated about 5,000 people were in the park at the time. |
| 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. | Later, scene-of-crime officers arrived at Woking Park to carry out inquiries. |
| All the children injured were aged under 16, Secamb 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. | 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. |
| Mr Holden said: "We have used this funfair operator for a number of years. We have never had any problems before. [The operator] is as upset as we are. | Mr Holden said: "We have used this funfair operator for a number of years. We have never had any problems before. [The operator] is as upset as we are. |
| "We are very shocked and distressed by the whole thing, but we are relieved to hear this morning that seven out of the eight children have been discharged from hospital." | "We are very shocked and distressed by the whole thing, but we are relieved to hear this morning that seven out of the eight children have been discharged from hospital." |
| The park will remain closed on Sunday while police investigate the cause of the incident, the club added. | |
| John Edwards, of Edwards Amusements, who hired the slide on behalf of the rotary club, described it as an "unfortunate accident." | |
| He told the BBC: "I do not know what happened", but said the slide did not collapse, the children fell. | |
| He said the slide had been removed by the HSE and he was now dismantling the rest of the fairground. | |
| The funfair was put under police cordon and investigators were inspecting other attractions, including the crooked house and the Ferris wheel. | The funfair was put under police cordon and investigators were inspecting other attractions, including the crooked house and the Ferris wheel. |
| A Woking Borough Council spokesman said: "We will be working with the police and relevant authorities to understand and explain what happened." | A Woking Borough Council spokesman said: "We will be working with the police and relevant authorities to understand and explain what happened." |
| 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 HSE said: "We are aware and making initial enquiries." | |
| 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: |