The mum of a four-year-old boy who was almost launched into the air when his harness was found to be open on a “Free Fall” fairground ride has told of how she watched on with horror - terrified he would fall out.
Tristan Curtis was just seconds from an accident, when horrified witnesses alerted operators to the situation.
The boy was not secured properly into his seat on the ride at Australia ’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, with images showing the restraint open above his head rather than locked downward.
The images show the children sitting next to him all had theirs secured, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Tristan’s mum, Sky Bourstani Curtis, has now spoken of how she watched on in horror as her son’s life was almost put in jeopardy.
She said: “The (operator) girl stopped the ride but didn't get out of her booth so another father ended up getting him to climb down to him.
“Myself and my husband were not tall enough to reach him. They simply did not pull his harness down, didn't check him.”
As her son had autism, she said it was “difficult” to know how he was feeling after the ordeal, the Daily Telegraph reports.
A witness to the terrifying incident, Eva Levy, claimed the operator had “no idea” that the boy had not been secured into the ride.
“They hit emergency stop but it seems like the operator couldn't bring the ride down and someone actually had to go up there and have his son jump into his arms,” Eva said.
“Onlookers had to scream for the ride to be stopped.”
Another mum who claimed to have witnessed the “negligence” posted an online warning telling parents to “be careful”.
She said the boy’s restraint had never been secured and the operator had started the ride with no notice or checks.
“Make sure you’re watching the way they strap your child into a ride because clearly some of these operators are not doing their job and duty of care! Shameful no excuses!” she wrote.
An investigation into the incident has been launched by organisers of the event.
A spokeswoman said the safety of patrons was “paramount”.
The Free Fall ride had been shut down following a reported issue with a harness, she said.
She added: “The safety systems of the ride functioned well to prevent any injury occurring and the ride will not operate again until a full investigation has been completed and the ride has been approved by specialist engineers."
Operators of rides at the Sydney Royal Easter Show must comply with the SafeWork NSW Guide for Amusement Devices.
Police were unaware of the incident, an NSW Police spokeswoman said, adding it was a safety issue for organisers.
Passengers on the Free Fall ride, which was located in the Kids carnival, must be at least 110 centimetres tall to go on the ride with or without an adult.
