Eight children injured on a slide during a firework in Woking | News from the United Kingdom


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Eight children were seriously injured after an accident occurred on a giant inflatable toboggan at a fair during a fireworks show on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses said that a number of children would have fallen from the top of the slide on concrete and people lying several meters down.

Fireworks at a Woking Park, Surrey, were canceled and a crowd of 12,000 people were evacuated from the site to allow air ambulance helicopters to land. and to treat the wounded.

Surrey police reported a major incident at the Woking Park fireworks after the incident, which occurred around 7:30 pm.

Police reported that eight children had been transported to the hospital with "potentially serious injuries". The South East Coast Ambulance Service said the children had been transported to major London trauma hospitals for treatment.

Initial reports indicated that a skelter ride had collapsed, causing injuries, but the Surrey Police later confirmed that the incident involved a large inflatable slide.

Andy Datson, 23, said he saw up to 40 children play on the "fragile" slide, which he estimated that he was about 10 feet tall.

"We had passed the toboggan earlier in the night and said that it looked dangerous. It seemed rather fragile, it's the least we can say, "he said.

"There were far too many children. There did not seem to be an adult at the top of the slide and these children were not older than 10 years old. He did not seem to be able to hold so many people. I would say that there were about 40 kids on it. "

He said he saw several emergency vehicles arrive and "many people worried" and what appeared to be children on the ground.

"It seemed like there were too many children and the side area had caved in," he said. "If, God forbid, they fell from the top, I would say it's at least 25 to 30 feet tall."

On Twitter, the organizers of the event, the Woking Rotary Club, said, "We are all very shocked and upset by the funfair events. We are committed to helping emergency departments care for injured children. "

A Twitter account managed by Woking Fireworks tweeted Saturday: "Really sorry, but because of a major incident in the carnival area, the police asked us to evacuate the park.

"The fire will not take place tonight. We will post additional information as soon as possible. "

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Directorate said that "initial investigations" were ongoing, while the Woking District Council said: "We will work with the police and the police. competent authorities to understand and explain what happened. "

Surrey Police called on anyone who witnessed the incident to contact her.

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