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| Injured woman's terror after fairground ride crash | Injured woman's terror after fairground ride crash |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Louise Brown suffered injuries to her face, legs and arms | |
| A woman who was injured when a fairground ride failed has spoken of the terrifying moment it crashed to the ground while she was mid-air. | A woman who was injured when a fairground ride failed has spoken of the terrifying moment it crashed to the ground while she was mid-air. |
| Louise Brown was on the 55m-high City Starflyer ride in Birmingham city centre when it lurched backwards before dropping on Thursday evening. | |
| Two women were taken to hospital while another 11 patients were assessed by paramedics and discharged at the scene. | Two women were taken to hospital while another 11 patients were assessed by paramedics and discharged at the scene. |
| "This can never happen again - we are in shock and all I can think of is what if my kids were on the ride," Ms Brown said. | "This can never happen again - we are in shock and all I can think of is what if my kids were on the ride," Ms Brown said. |
| Ms Brown, who works for the BBC in Birmingham, said she suffered injuries to her face, legs and arms, adding that her colleague was also hurt. | Ms Brown, who works for the BBC in Birmingham, said she suffered injuries to her face, legs and arms, adding that her colleague was also hurt. |
| "We were on it having fun and then it just crashed to the ground," she said. | "We were on it having fun and then it just crashed to the ground," she said. |
| "It went backwards first though, which I've never seen it do before." | "It went backwards first though, which I've never seen it do before." |
| She said it felt like the ride was descending but was "still quite high" before it dropped and she "felt pain". | She said it felt like the ride was descending but was "still quite high" before it dropped and she "felt pain". |
| The ride attracts thousands of people every Christmas in Birmingham | The ride attracts thousands of people every Christmas in Birmingham |
| Emergency services were called to the ride on Centenary Square at about 19:30 GMT. | Emergency services were called to the ride on Centenary Square at about 19:30 GMT. |
| A police cordon was set up between the ice rink, the library and the Rep theatre, with people asked to avoid the area. | A police cordon was set up between the ice rink, the library and the Rep theatre, with people asked to avoid the area. |
| Images taken by the BBC showed wires from at least two gondolas on the ride tangled up with each other. | Images taken by the BBC showed wires from at least two gondolas on the ride tangled up with each other. |
| West Midlands Fire Service confirmed it had "dropped to the ground" while it was in operation. | West Midlands Fire Service confirmed it had "dropped to the ground" while it was in operation. |
| Amelie Huet was in the nearby ice skate bar with friends when the ride crashed | Amelie Huet was in the nearby ice skate bar with friends when the ride crashed |
| One witness told the BBC he saw "girls who appeared to be injured" walking away from the area, with "one girl who seemed to have her face cut". | One witness told the BBC he saw "girls who appeared to be injured" walking away from the area, with "one girl who seemed to have her face cut". |
| Amelie Huet, 18, was in the ice skate bar nearby with a group of friends at the time. | Amelie Huet, 18, was in the ice skate bar nearby with a group of friends at the time. |
| She told the BBC she went out to the balcony when she heard sirens and saw ambulances, police cars and fire engines. | She told the BBC she went out to the balcony when she heard sirens and saw ambulances, police cars and fire engines. |
| "Someone told us the structure dropped and someone fell out," she said. | "Someone told us the structure dropped and someone fell out," she said. |
| 'I feel lucky' | 'I feel lucky' |
| Lilly Nitsch, 18, from Leamington Spa, was at the scene and told the BBC she was "pretty shocked" by the incident. | Lilly Nitsch, 18, from Leamington Spa, was at the scene and told the BBC she was "pretty shocked" by the incident. |
| "That's one of my favourite rides growing up," she said. | "That's one of my favourite rides growing up," she said. |
| "It makes me think of of the times you've been on rides like that. It makes me feel lucky." | "It makes me think of of the times you've been on rides like that. It makes me feel lucky." |
| Lilly Nitsch said she was grateful not to be on the ride at the time | Lilly Nitsch said she was grateful not to be on the ride at the time |
| Birmingham City Council said it was aware of the incident and that its thoughts were with the people who had been injured. | Birmingham City Council said it was aware of the incident and that its thoughts were with the people who had been injured. |
| The Health and Safety Executive has also been informed. | The Health and Safety Executive has also been informed. |
| Brian Hughes, chairman of Westside Business Improvement District (BID), said: "While we are relieved to have heard that no-one has received life-threatening injuries, this must have been a terrible incident to experience." | Brian Hughes, chairman of Westside Business Improvement District (BID), said: "While we are relieved to have heard that no-one has received life-threatening injuries, this must have been a terrible incident to experience." |
| He said Westside BID had spoken to the owners of Ice Skate Birmingham, which operates the ride. | He said Westside BID had spoken to the owners of Ice Skate Birmingham, which operates the ride. |
| "We know that they will now be working closely with the authorities to find out exactly what went wrong," he added. | "We know that they will now be working closely with the authorities to find out exactly what went wrong," he added. |
| The 55m-high City Starflyer ride boasts panoramic views | The 55m-high City Starflyer ride boasts panoramic views |
| The City Starflyer ride, provided by funfair suppliers Danter Attractions, has been described as "one of the tallest rides around". | The City Starflyer ride, provided by funfair suppliers Danter Attractions, has been described as "one of the tallest rides around". |
| The company declined to comment when contacted, PA Media reported. | The company declined to comment when contacted, PA Media reported. |
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