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Eight children are being treated for "potentially serious injuries" after the collapse of an inflatable slide at a fireworks party, police said.
Surrey police declared a "major incident" at Woking Fireworks after several children fell from the "giant inflatable slide" around 7:30 pm Saturday.
The air ambulance helped transport one of the patients to "major trauma centers" after the incident occurred in Woking Park on Saturday night, the coast ambulance service said. southeast (Secamb).
One witness said that he worried earlier in the evening when he had seen up to 40 children play on the "fragile" slide at a time.
Chief Inspector Steve Schulten said: "A number of children have fallen off the toboggan and have been injured.
"Eight children were taken to the hospital by the ambulance service of the southeast coast with potentially serious injuries."
He added that the health and safety officer had been informed of the incident.
Secamb had "several teams" at the scene of "the significant incident".
The patients were transported to "major trauma centers" in London with the help of the air ambulance, a statement added.
Andy Datson, 23, said he saw up to 40 kids playing on a slide, which he estimated he was about 30 feet tall.
"We had pbaded the toboggan earlier in the night and we said that it seemed dangerous, it seemed rather fragile," he says.
"There were far too many children, it did not seem to be able to contain so many people."
The journalist, who lives in Guildford, Surrey, said he noticed the flashing lights of the ambulances after leaving with friends.
"I immediately thought it would be the slide," he said.
"It looked like there were too many children and the side area had caved.
"If, God forbid, they fell from the top, I'd say it's at least 25 to 30 feet tall."
Oliver Trimble told the BBC that the evacuation had been announced by the event's speakers shortly before 8 pm, at which time the fireworks were to begin.
He said he saw patients being treated by doctors, adding, "It was a pretty awful sight to see."
"This is one of the biggest events of the year in Woking, with thousands of people coming to see the fireworks," he said.
Local musician Anna Neale said she was one of hundreds who evacuated the park, filled with families with young children.
"We saw all the blue lights and saw the arrival of the air ambulance.We all evacuated very calmly.Everybody was shocked."
She had planned to take her 10 and 6 year old girls on the giant slide after the fireworks.
She said: "I am very grateful to my children for not doing it, let's just say it like that."
The Rotary Club of Woking District, the organizers of the event, said they were "shocked and afflicted" by the collapse.
The park will remain closed until Sunday while police would investigate the cause of the incident, the club added.
A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Directorate said that "initial investigations" were under way.
A spokesman for the Woking District Council said: "We will work with the police and competent authorities to understand and explain what happened."
Press Association
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