Woman fighting for life after Brockwell Park Lambeth Country Show grandstand collapse leaves 11-year-old girl in hospital

A woman in her 40s is fighting for her life after a funfair ride malfunctioned at a country show in south London, the Metropolitan Police say. A man in his 40s is also receiving treatment for life-changing injuries. Lambeth Country Show at Brockwell Park reopened on Sunday (June 9) but racing remains isolated.

An 11-year-old girl, the 40-year-old man and woman, and a 50-year-old man were taken to hospital after the incident. The 50-year-old man and the 11-year-old girl have both been released from hospital, Scotland Yard said. A giant frog walking is among those that could be seen behind high black fences on Sunday.

A witness to the incident, Karen Swaby, 41, claimed she saw a carriage “snap off its hinges” and hit a man in the head. “He was bleeding from his head. He got back up and collapsed again. At this point, I didn’t know if he was conscious or not,” Ms Swaby told MailOnline. Another witness said: “Four people flew and went through the air. It was like a horror movie.”

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A police spokesman said: “Emergency services responded at around 6.20pm on Saturday 8 June to a fairground run gone wrong at Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park.

“Four people were transported to the hospital. A 40-year-old woman remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a full assessment by medics. A man in his 40s is also receiving ongoing treatment for potentially life-changing injuries.

“The 50-year-old man and the 11-year-old girl have both been discharged from hospital. Officers attended the scene today alongside the Health and Safety Executive as inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.

Signs saying “sorry for any inconvenience this ride will not be opening today” have been affixed to the wire fence surrounding the fairgrounds. Disappointed visitors of all ages could be seen reading the sign and speaking to a fair worker, who told them all the rides were closed, before leaving to enjoy other attractions at the event.

Today, a spokesman for Lambeth Council said: “Very sadly, a funfair ride at the country show malfunctioned yesterday evening, injuring four people. They are being cared for in hospital and our thoughts are with them.

“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 council-run show has been running as a free community event in Brockwell Park since 1974. It attracts more than 120,000 people over the weekend each year.

Helen Hayes, Labour’s candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood, said on Saturday night: “I am shocked to learn of the failure of a fairground race at Lambeth Country Show earlier this evening. My thoughts are with those who were injured and all who witnessed this horrific event. We thank the emergency services that intervened. There must now be an urgent investigation.”

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