Lambeth Country Show: Council promises investigation after ‘terrifying’ ride breakdown

A council has promised a full investigation after four people were rushed to hospital in a “terrifying” funfair accident.

Emergency services raced to Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park, south London, at around 6.20pm yesterday evening to reports of people thrown from a ride. Four people were transported to the hospital, where they remained on Sunday. A partial collapse is understood to have occurred at the ‘Froggit’ roundabout, which spins and bounces several carriages around a central pole.

An eyewitness, who had been on the journey just moments earlier, described seeing a man thrown from the car and thrown into the air after a “huge cracking noise”. They told the Mirror: “When I was queuing for the toilet I heard a huge cracking noise and then I remember seeing an old man fly off the ride. It was scary to see – I walked the same walk before him. I am extremely scared of any kind of walking now, I hope all the injured recover.”

Lambeth Country Show reopened for a second day on Sunday afternoon after police were spotted at the scene earlier in the day. In a new statement, a Lambeth Council spokesman said: “Very sadly, a funfair ride at the country show malfunctioned yesterday evening (June 8), injuring four people. They are being cared for in hospital and our thoughts are with them. An investigation into the incident, led by the Met Police and the Health and Safety Executive, is ongoing.

“Thank you to the emergency services for their quick response to yesterday’s country spectacle and their support to the families affected. Following this incident and to allow for a full investigation, the fairground rides at the show will be affected by closures for the second day of the country show. The safety and well-being of our attendees remains our top priority and we are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors.” Police said no one was caught in the race. Shocked local residents took to social media after the incident, with one saying: ‘We were next in line for the ride and it collapsed in front of us. It was awful and we feel bad for those affected.”

In a statement last night, the Metropolitan Police said: “Emergency services responded at around 6.20pm on Saturday to a failed fair race at Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park. Four people were transported to the hospital. We await their evaluation. No one is caught in the race to establish the circumstances at the location.