WITNESSES of a horror crash at Winter Wonderland have told they heard a massive bang as a slingshot ride smashed into a support beam.
Two young boys had to be rescued from the fairground attraction at the popular Christmas market in London on Wednesday.
In a video shared on social media, the pod can be seen dangling above the ground with the two riders still inside.
Staff can also be seen escorting spectators away from the scene.
Becky Littlewood, who took the video, wrote that she had been attending the attraction in Hyde Park night when the accident happened.
She said: “We heard a massive bang, turned round and saw people just hanging there.
“They were sat there for about 20 minutes while they figured out how to get them down.”
Another video shows staff at Winter Wonderland blocking access to the ride just after the 50 foot high smash.
And sirens can be heard charging to the Hyde Park venue as punters look on in horror.
Pictures of the ride on Thursday show it partially dismantled.
A set of rules of the ride can be seen next to the slingshot – warning punters to “sit firmly”.
It is not the first incident to have erupted at the Christmas attraction this week.
A 24-year-old man was knifed in the neck outside the entrance on Sunday.
London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police said they were called out to the incident but the riders had been rescued by the time they got there.
The Met said in a statement: “Police were called at 20.22 on Wednesday 14 December to reports of two people trapped in a bungee ride in Hyde Park.
“Officers attended along with London Fire Brigade.
“It was reported that two teenage boys have been in a fairground ride when there was an incident that left the cage they were riding in suspended in the air.
“The cage had been lowered down before police arrived and the boys had also left the scene. There were no reported injuries.
“A preliminary inspection indicates there was a technical fault within a sealed gearbox that controls the release of the elastic cord and steel wire rope. Further inspections are ongoing.
“The Health and Safety Executive has been alerted about the incident.”
Winter Wonderland is a major London attraction featuring rides and festive market stalls. It is estimated millions of visitors attend each year.
A Winter Wonderland spokesman said: “We can confirm that a technical issue involving the reverse bungee occurred on Wednesday evening. Both riders were safely escorted off the ride, checked by our on-site medics and were not injured.
“Safety is our highest priority and the ride is closed while further investigation takes place.
“All of our rides undergo rigorous and regular safety checks by experienced members of staff trained in health and safety. We also provide regular training for all staff to ensure our visitors can enjoy a fun and safe experience.
“All other attractions at Winter Wonderland are operating as normal.”
The Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme, an organisation that monitors the safety of amusement park rides, said: “We can confirm that the elastic cord and the steel wire rope supporting the reverse bungee gondola in which the public sit has not snapped or failed in any way.
“We inspected the ride at 7am this morning and it was found that a technical issue had occurred within a sealed gearbox that controls the release of the elastic cord and steel wire rope.”
