MULTIPLE people have been left injured after a chair swing carousel collapsed at a funfair.
Officials say at least 20 of those on board – half of them children – were hurt when the ride toppled over in full flight at a festival in Palma Campania, Italy, on Sunday.
Reports suggest that one rider, a 12-year-old girl, remains in hospital in Naples in wake of the incident.
Dramatic phone video footage of the drama shows the chair swing in operation before its base starts to wobble uncontrollably.
As the ride starts to lift, spectators begin to flee and the chair swing topples over onto its side, scattering its passengers.
Local police are now said to be investigating the accident at the Madonna delle Grazie (Our Lady of Graces) festival.
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They have seized the fairground ride and investigators currently believe structural failure may be to blame.
They are investigating a person allegedly responsible for the fairground malfunction – a woman from nearby Poggiomarino – for causing injury through negligence.
They have seized papers from her detailing the fairground’s insurance policy and the carousel’s last technical test.
Palma Campania mayor Nello Donnarumma reported that the incident took place just hours before the fairground was due to be dismantled.
The incident comes after three kids were taken to a hospital after a fairground ride snapped mid-air at Ataturk Park in Antalya, south-west Turkey.
Footage showed the kids’ faces turn from delight to panic as they became locked in their seats as the ride faltered just moments after it set off.
One of hurt youngsters said the ride “flew through the air” after breaking.
He told local media: “While we were swinging, a cable or something broke.
“The ride flew through the air and landed upside down.
“I hit my head and I also have bruising on my foot.”
Meanwhile, another dramatic showed the moment fair goers were left hanging upside down 130ft above the ground when a ride failed.
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The fun-seekers were left stranded for up to 40 minutes when a new ride at a Russian amusement park broke down when it was being tested.
The ride, called “Booster”, broke down at the Kyrlay amusement park in the city of Kazan, south-western Russia last summer.
