King's Lynn girl injured on Festival Too ride
A 14-year-old girl from Gaywood suffered injuries and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after she came off a ride she went on at the Festival Too funfair.
Lillie Watson was at the festival on Saturday, with her mum Charlotte Watson and younger brother Cayden, 10.
She went on the ride Tagada, situated in the Tuesday Market Place next to the Globe public house when the incident happened about 9pm.
Ms Watson, 34, said: "My daughter was badly injured by being thrown off a fairground ride Saturday night at the Festival Too.
"Rides that are unsafe need to be stopped. My daughter is very lucky to be alive."
The Tagada is a popular high-octane thrill ride where riders are not restrained or secured, but simply stand against the wall while it spins.
Ms Watson said:"Lillie being young wanted to go on and this particular ride spins and elevates and sometimes people fall into the middle and then they find their place again at the same time.
"Lillie was trying to find her place again and was holding on to the bar when the ride bounced again, she lost her footing and grip and fell head first on to the platform.
"Lillie did get up and came to the side but had a panic attack and had medical attention at the scene.
"I got to her and called the police officers over who radioed for private paramedics.
"They checked her head and neck and I drove her to the hospital. She has a slight fracture to her spine and is now obviously off school with cuts, bruises and scrapes.
"Any kind of movement could cause it to break so she is just resting.
"I witnessed the whole thing with my 10-year-old boy. It was not the best night of my life."
Festival Too runs for three weekends through the summer with big acts performing on the stage.Will Young headlined on Saturday night.
Debbie Bell is the fairground operator who Ms Watson has been dealing with through Festival Too, along with West Norfolk Council.
Ms Watson said: "Debbie couldn't be more helpful when she found out that Lillie is only 14-years-old and not 19 as originally thought and she couldn't be more sorry.
"I asked her to look at this from a mother's point of view."
Ms Watson said she had reported the accident to the Health and Safety Executive.
Many street fairs ban Tagada rides due to their generally poor safety records and cleanliness.
The rides are banned in the United States and Australia due to these issues.
At least two deaths are documented, both in Italy where the ride is very common in travelling carnivals.
Ms Watson said: "I don't think there was anything specifically not working on the ride but there needs to be a belt to stop them from going in to the middle.
"If not, someone is going to die, it is only a matter of time.
"The kids were all crying their eyes out while the ride was still going as they'd just seen what had happened to Lillie.
"She remembers the whole thing and one friend in particular, Theo, grabbed her arm as she went over the edge and it slowed her down, she says he saved her life."
Lillie attends Springwood High School and is currently off and resting.
Her mum appealed for witnesses to come forward and said: "Springwood and the headteacher Mr Johnson have been brilliant and just said to keep them updated as and when and just let them know.
"I've been all over the place and I feel my little boy needs help as he saw it happen."
A spokesperson from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "The HSE is aware of this incident and enquiries are being made."
The Lynn News contacted Festival Too but have not had a response. A West Norfolk Council spokesman said it was not a borough-organised event and it was unaware of the incident.
