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Seven children injured on slide at Woking bonfire night Eight children injured on slide at Woking fireworks
(35 minutes later)
Seven children were seriously hurt after an accident on a giant fairground inflatable slide at a bonfire night fireworks display. Eight children were seriously hurt after an accident on a giant fairground inflatable slide at a fireworks display on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses said a number of children reportedly fell from the top of the slide onto concrete and people several metres below. Eyewitnesses said a number of children reportedly fell from the top of the slide on to concrete and people several metres below.
The fireworks display at a park in Woking, Surrey, was cancelled and a crowd of 12,000 people were evacuated from the venue to allow air ambulance helicopters to land and treat the injured. The South East Coast Ambulance Service said that seven children were being treated for “potentially serious injuries” and were transported to major hospital trauma centres in London. The fireworks display at a park in Woking, Surrey, was cancelled and a crowd of 12,000 people were evacuated from the venue to allow air ambulance helicopters to land and treat the injured.
Initial reports said that a helter skelter ride had collapsed causing the injuries but Surrey police later confirmed the incident involved a large inflatable slide. Surrey police declared a major incident at the Woking Park fireworks display after the incident, which happened at about 7.30pm.
Andy Datson, 23, said he saw up to 40 children playing on the “flimsy” slide, which he estimated was about 30-foot tall at its highest. “We had been walking past the slide earlier in the night and said it looked unsafe. It looked pretty flimsy to say the least,” he said. “There were far too many kids on it. It did not look as if there was an adult at the top of the slide and these kids were no more than 10 years old. It didn’t look like it could hold that many people. I would say there was around 40 kids on it.” Police reported that eight children had been taken to hospital with “potentially serious injuries”. The South East Coast ambulance service said the children were transported to major hospital trauma centres in London for treatment.
He said he saw several emergency vehicles arrive and “a lot of worried people” and what appeared to be children on the floor. It looked like there were too many children on it and the side area had given way,” he said. “If, heaven forbid, they fell from the top I would say it’s at least 25 to 30 feet tall.” Initial reports said that a helter-skelter ride had collapsed causing the injuries but Surrey police later confirmed the incident involved a large inflatable slide.
Musician Anna Neale said she was among the hundreds of people who evacuated the park, which had been packed with families with young children. The 36-year-old mother-of-two said: “We saw all the blue lights and saw the air ambulance arriving. We all evacuated very calmly. Everyone was just shocked.” She had planned to take her daughters, aged 10 and six, on the giant slide after the fireworks. I am very grateful my children didn’t go on it, let’s just put it that way. Andy Datson, 23, said he saw up to 40 children playing on the “flimsy” slide, which he estimated was about 10 metres (30ft) tall at its highest.
On Twitter, Woking Rotary Club, the event organisers said: “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 had been walking past the slide earlier in the night and said it looked unsafe. It looked pretty flimsy to say the least,” he said.
Woking Fireworks tweeted: “Really sorry but due to a major incident in the funfair area the police have asked us to evacuate the park. The fireworks display will therefore not take place tonight. We will publish further information as soon as possible.” “There were far too many kids on it. It did not look as if there was an adult at the top of the slide and these kids were no more than 10 years old. It didn’t look like it could hold that many people. I would say there were about 40 kids on it.”
He said he saw several emergency vehicles arrive and “a lot of worried people” and what appeared to be children on the ground.
“It looked as if there were too many children on it and the side area had given way,” he said. “If, heaven forbid, they fell from the top, I would say it’s at least 25 to 30ft tall.”
On Twitter, Woking Rotary Club, the event’s organisers, said: “We are all very shocked and distressed by events in the funfair. We are focusing on assisting the emergency services in dealing with the injured children.”
A Twitter account run by Woking Fireworks tweeted on Saturday: “Really sorry but due to a major incident in the funfair area the police have asked us to evacuate the park.
“The fireworks display will therefore not take place tonight. We will publish further information as soon as possible.”
A Health and Safety Executive spokeswoman said “initial enquiries” were being made, while Woking borough council said: “We will be working with the police and relevant authorities to understand and explain what happened.”
Surrey police appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch with them.
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