Two schoolchildren and a woman have been rushed to hospital after a fairground ride “malfunctioned” in Rotherham.
The trio – aged 11, 13 and 21 – were all injured on the ride at the Maltby Crags Fair on Friday evening.
All three were then sent for treatment, police said, though the extent of their injuries remains unclear.
On social media, locals claimed the ride had malfunctioned.
One said the injuries came on the “superbob”, a family ride which has up to 22 rider vehicles which move around a circular track at speed in a “wave-like” motion.
The fairground was shut down, before later reopening for the evening.
Photos from the scene show a heavy police presence on nearby Blyth Road fields, with at least six police vehicles in attendance.
The Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed the two children were taken to Sheffield Children’s Hospital after it attended the fair shortly before 7pm.
The fairground was shut down, before later reopening for the evening
|
MALTBY CRAGS FUNFAIR
Two ambulances and three rapid response vehicles were sent to the scene, the service said.
Ex-Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford wrote on social media: “News from the fair in Maltby, where a ride has reportedly injured a child.
“I believe only one child is involved, but please check on your children if they are currently there.”
In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said: “Emergency services are currently in attendance at an incident at Maltby Crags Fair in Rotherham after three young people aged between 11 and 13 suffered minor injuries while on a ride.
FAIRGROUND HORROR – READ MORE:
“They have been taken to hospital as a precaution and for treatment and the fairground has now closed for the evening.
“Blyth Lane was closed between Muglet Lane and Victoria Road to allow people to safely exit the fairground but has since been reopened.”
The injuries follow a number of incidents at funfairs in recent years.
Last May, a five-year old girl was taken to hospital after falling “several metres” from a theme park ride in North Wales.
Blyth Lane was closed to let people safely exit the fairground after the chaos, police said
|
GOOGLE MAPS
The same month, a fairground firm was shut down after one of its rides broke off its track and crashed with three children inside.
A BBC probe last year found thousands of Britons had been injured at funfairs and amusement and theme parks in England, Scotland and Wales over the last decade.
There were 3,188 injuries in England, Scotland and Wales between April 2014 and March 2024, including slips, trips and falls.
In 2023-24 alone, 350 people were hurt at funfairs and fairgrounds, a Freedom of Information request put to the Health and Safety Executive found.