Mother says 11-year-old girl seriously injured in Lambeth Country Show ride breakdown ‘still traumatised’

A mother has spoken of the “horrific” moment a funfair ride malfunctioned in south-east London, leaving her 11-year-old daughter and father injured.

Four people were injured when the ride failed at Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park on the evening of June 8.

Among them was 11-year-old Silvana-Rose Douglas, who was enjoying a day out with her grandfather when tragedy struck.

The other two injured people – a man and a woman in their 40s – remained in hospital on Tuesday, 10 days after the incident.

Silvana-Rose, from Bromley, suffered injuries to her legs, pelvis and lower back and was left on crutches, while her 57-year-old husband suffered concussion and a broken nose.

Her mother, Loredana Musumeci, told the Standard that Silvana-Rose’s grandfather “surprised” her by calling her on the morning of June 8 and asking her if she would like to go to the fair.

After having “fun” on several rides, Silvana-Rose and her grandfather decided to queue for the “Froggit” ride.

Waiting behind a barrier, they watched as the customers ahead of them boarded and the ride began, malfunctioning almost immediately.

“When it started traveling, it came off the hinges or something,” Mr Musumeci said.

“Someone fell out of the car and someone started screaming.

“A woman was stuck hanging on the car and she was banging her head from side to side and she was dripping with blood.”

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A man who is understood to have been with the woman was reportedly kicked off the trip. Both were seriously injured.

“The man fell straight into the car,” Ms Musumeci said. “It’s just horrible.”

Silvana-Rose’s grandfather picked her up and tried to lift her to safety to avoid being hit by the woman hanging from the horse.

But the trip hit a speaker that collided with Silvana-Rose, knocking her to the floor.

“The loudspeaker hit my father in the nose,” Ms Musumeci said. “He was unconscious on the floor. My daughter was screaming. She didn’t know what happened.”

They were rushed to hospital, along with the 40-year-old man and woman who had been traveling.

“The woman was next to my father (in the hospital) and she was screaming in pain,” Ms Musumeci said.

Ten days after the horrible incident, Silvana-Rose remains “traumatized” by what happened.

“She’s not sleeping, she’s having flashbacks,” her mother said. “It’s a lot for a little girl to do. “It’s in a bad way. He has back pain, leg pain, spine pain, neck pain, he’s on crutches, he can’t even go back to school.”

Silvana-Rose’s grandfather is still recovering.

The Metropolitan Police, Lambeth Council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are now investigating the “shocking” incident.

Ms. Musumeci asked for answers regarding the safety and staffing of the trip.

“What was the malfunction? Why wasn’t it checked before? The ride was stopped that evening but the fun fair was still going,” she said.

“I just want these people to pay,” she added. “Not in terms of money. I want justice. People are badly hurt and they don’t care.”

Police, ambulance crews and an air ambulance were rushed to the scene at around 6.20pm on Saturday 8 June.

“A woman in her 40s and a man in his 40s both remain in hospital, neither is believed to be life-threatening,” a Met Police spokesman said on Tuesday.

“Officers attended the scene on Sunday alongside the Health and Safety Executive while inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.”

A spokesman for Lambeth Council responded: “We are deeply saddened by the fairground incident at Lambeth Country Show, it is truly shocking and our thoughts are with those who have been injured and their families. “We take health and safety incredibly seriously and all relevant safety certifications were provided prior to the event.

“An investigation into the incident, led by the Met Police and the Health and Safety Executive, is ongoing. We are committed to playing our full part in this investigation and making sure the families get the answers they deserve.”