Moment mum, 45, catapulted off Xcelerator funfair ride after her seat restraint BROKE & sent her spinning through air
SHOCKING footage shows the moment a 45-year-old mum was catapulted off the Xcelerator funfair ride after her seat restraint broke.
Khadra Ali was sent hurtling through the air after not being suitably restrained in her seat of the dangerous fairground ride in Hillingdon, London.
As horrified onlookers watched on, the terrified mum hit the barrier of the next ride and landed on the ground.
Mrs Ali spent the next few weeks in a coma and four months in hospital after the incident at the Funderpark funfair in Yiewsley on April 10 2018.
The mother suffered multiple fractures to her back, hips, pelvis, ribs, both collarbones as well as internal bleeding and a significant head injury.
Mrs Ali had gone on the fast motion Xcelerator ride alongside her daughter who was thankfully unharmed.
Now, video footage of the terrifying incident has been published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after its prosecution of a firm and three individuals, who received suspended prison sentences.
As the ride picked up speed, Mrs Ali screamed for help and clung on for some time before being violently thrown off.
But while she survived her horror injuries, Mrs Ali, who is now 51, can now no longer do chores or activities with her children.
She has lost function in her arms and legs and has carers to help with basic tasks including washing and dressing.
The HSE investigation found the ride’s seat restraint system was designed with electrical and mechanical failings by the manufacturer, Perrin Stevens Limited.
The ride control system was set up in such a way that it would not have detected all failures.
Derek Hackett, the ride owner trading as Hackett Fairs, failed to properly maintain the ride, an investigation found.
This failure was in part due to Perrin Stevens’ operator manual lacking in information on inspection and maintenance of the seat restraint system.
The investigation also found on the day of the incident Mr Hackett’s ride operator had no attendant assisting them.
This callous mistake came despite the operations manual requiring a minimum of two people to operate and monitor the ride.
Crucially, the operator did not check each rider’s restraint bar as they should have before starting the ride, and did not even notice that Mrs Ali required assistance and stopped the ride.
DMG Technical Ltd was the appointed inspection body and had overall control of the in-service annual inspection of the ride and responsibility for issuing the declaration of the operation compliance (DOC).
David Geary, director at DMG Technical Ltd, completed the annual inspection in 2017 and did not identify any failed switches or maintenance concerns.
Mr Geary completed initial tests and signed off the ride for use in 2013.
He also completed the required Design Review of the ride but failed to identify the electrical and mechanical design failings.
The ride had been in use for a number of months before the design review was signed off by Mr Geary.
The owner of the ride, Derek Hackett, 64, manufacturer Perrin Stevens, 40, and David Geary, 65, whose company was responsible for safety checks, all pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches over the incident.
‘JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED’
At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 7 May 2024 determined their sentences.
Perrin Stevens pleaded guilty as a director of Perrin Stevens Ltd (dissolved) that their offence under Section 6(1)(a) and Section 6(1a)(d) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 was attributable to his consent, connivance and/or neglect, whereby he was guilty of an offence contrary to Section 33(1)(a) by virtue of Section 37(1) of the Act.
Mr Stevens was handed a custodial sentence of 32 weeks, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £11,444 in costs.
David Geary pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
He also pleaded guilty as director of DMG Technical Ltd that their offence as attributable to his consent, connivance and/or neglect, whereby he was guilty of an offence contrary to Section 33(1)(a) by virtue of Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Mr Geary was handed a custodial sentence of 44 weeks, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £24,000 in costs.
Derek Hackett pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Mr Hackett was given a custodial sentence of 18 weeks, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £4,800 in costs.
DMG Technical Ltd, of Wenlock Road, Hackney, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company was fined £51,000 and ordered to pay £30,000 in costs.
‘TRAGIC INCIDENT’
HSE inspector Helen Donnelly said: “Mrs Ali was simply enjoying a day out with her children in what she expected to be a safe environment. As a result she continues to suffer pain and significant impact to her everyday life.
“Good health and safety management often requires multiple precautions being put in place, and often by different parties.
“This incident shows that there are serious consequences when we do not fulfil our health and safety duties and become reliant on the actions of others to ensure the safety of workers and the public.
“Good health and safety is a collective effort and we must all take responsibility for the role we have in keeping people safe.
“While this investigation has been long and complex, we hope Mrs Ali and her family will find some comfort with the sentence and see that justice has now been served.”
A statement from Mrs Ali’s representative said: “The family of Khadra Ali is deeply relieved that the criminal prosecution has concluded following the tragic incident at the Funderpark Fun Fair.
“They are grateful to everyone who has supported them throughout this challenging process.
“While no outcome can undo the impact of the life-changing injuries on Khadra’s health and well-being, they hope this marks the beginning of their journey to rebuild their lives and provide her with the support she needs moving forward.
“The family remain committed to providing Khadra with the best quality of life possible.
“They respectfully request privacy as they continue to focus on caring for Khadra and facing the challenges ahead.”