Police issue Birmingham fairground update as two injured when ride ‘crashed’

Two men were arrested after a Christmas fairground ride “crashed to the ground” in Birmingham city centre.

The men, aged 55 and 21, were arrested at the scene on Thursday evening on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and obstructing officers, West Midlands Police said. They remain in custody.

Two women were taken to hospital after the City Star Flyer ride “failed and crashed” in Centenary Square, while another 11 patients were assessed by paramedics and discharged at the scene.

A police cordon remained in place around the ride, which is 55m high, a Ferris wheel, and another ride in the square on Friday morning.

In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, West Midlands Police said: “We remain in Centenary Square in Birmingham this afternoon assisting the Health & Safety Executive after a number of people were injured in an incident involving a fairground ride.

“A cordon is in place and is likely to remain in place throughout the day.

“Two men aged, 55 and 21, were arrested at the scene last night on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and obstructing officers and remain in our custody today.

“Anyone with CCTV or mobile phone footage which may assist the investigation has been asked to get in touch quoting log 4290 of 12 December.”

Louise Brown, who works for the BBC in Birmingham, suffered injuries to her face, legs and arms, she told BBC News.

She 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.

“We were on it having fun and then it just crashed to the ground.

“It went backwards first though, which I’ve never seen it do before”.

She added that the ride was “still quite high” before it dropped and she “felt pain”.

Emergency services were called to the square at 7.30pm and two ambulances and five paramedics were sent to the scene.

In a statement, West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “On arrival, crews found 13 patients.

“Two women were treated by ambulance staff for injuries not believed to be serious and conveyed to Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.

“Nine women and three men were assessed by medics before being given self-care advice and discharged at the scene.”

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: “We appreciate the concern around this incident and are working with the relevant authorities.

“We also have specialists attending the site today. There will be an investigation to establish what happened.”

Danter Attractions, who manage the ride, declined to comment when contacted about the incident.