A WOMAN in her 50s had been queuing for a fairground ride with two children when she plunged 30ft from Blackpool Central Pier.
Holidaymakers watched on in horror as the woman landed on the solid wet sand below with a “huge thud” yesterday afternoon.
She was left in a critical condition after tumbling through the open 4ft by 3ft service hole, which is normally covered.
Screams were heard as she crashed through water pipes before hitting the ground.
A distressed eyewitness said: “Myself and my husband watched this and I was one of the first to attend to the lady with two other women.
“I stayed until the ambulance came and left my details with the police who said they would call to update me but I haven’t heard anything.
“We can’t stop thinking about her and the poor children.
“I was underneath when she fell,” she added.
The hatch is between the Wheelhouse Cafe and the Ferris wheel.
Another witness, on holiday from Scotland, said: ”I was with my kids on the beach and saw a shape fall from the corner of my eye, and then heard screaming from people close by.
“When I realised it was a lady I just got my kids out of the way.
“There was water pouring out of pipes she had snapped as she fell.
“I could see people helping her and then the coast guard, and other emergency services came.
“The paramedics spent about an hour making sure she was safe to move before taking her to hospital.”
They said how the boy who was with her was “really upset”.
The woman’s injuries are not yet known.
After emergency services flocked to the beach, her condition was stabilised for an hour and a half before she was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital by ambulance.
Metal gates and security are barring people from visiting the pier today and all the on-pier rides and attractions are closed.
The arcade on the promenade end remains open.
The Blackpool Pier Company Ltd, which owns all three Blackpool piers, had a turnover of £15m last year.
Furious locals called the incident “an accident waiting to happen” on social media.
“The pier is obviously corroded. Who the hell is responsible for checking these things?” one wrote.
“Only a matter of time before this happened, hope the lady is ok,” said another.
“It was only a matter of time before someone went through one of those piers, what a height to fall from though!” echoed a third.
“Thank goodness the tide was out,” added a fourth.
Blackpool is the home of three Victorian piers: the North Pier, Central Pier and South Pier.
The Central Pier was first opened on May 30 1868 and was 503 yards in length, 131 of which was a landing jetty to use at low tide.
It was constructed by the same company who built the North Pier in 1862.
Central Pier was built to provide entertainment, rather than to be a relaxing space like the North Pier.
It was largely used as a space for people to dance, meet potential partners and make friends.
In the 20th century roller skating was introduced, as well as fairground rides and amusement machines.
Steamboats also set off from the landing jetty, like they did from the North Pier.
After the Second World War dance halls became less popular and the facilities were transformed into a theatre, bars and arcades in the 1970s.
In the nineties a 33 metre high Ferris wheel was added.
A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We called to an incident at the pier after reports that a patient had fallen approximately 30 feet through the pier.
“We responded with an ambulance, a critical care paramedic team, an advanced paramedic, and an operational commander.
“A woman in her 50s received initial treatment for her injuries before being extricated and taken to the hospital.”
