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Safety investigators appeal to Show goers

Sep 15, 2014
The Airmaxx 360 ride

The Airmaxx 360 ride

SafeWork SA has appealed to Royal Show patrons to come forward with any concerns about the safety of show rides.

The appeal today, by the agency’s executive director Bryan Russell, comes as investigators continue their inquiry into the death of an eight-year-old girl who was thrown from the Airmaxx 360 ride on Friday.

“People are invited to contact us and talk about their experiences with the ride,” Russell said today on ABC Radio.

“The focus in the investigation is that we are seeking information from anyone who has comments or evidence that may assist.

“We are determined to get to the bottom of it.”

The 175th Royal Adelaide Show closed yesterday. It’s success was overshadowed by the death and a second incident where officials closed the Traffic Jam ride in the Kids Carnival area after a height restriction breach was identified.

The safety breach was discovered on Friday, the same day the eight-year-old girl on holiday from Malaysia was thrown from the Airmaxx 360. The Traffic Jam breach was identified after a photo was posted on social media showing a man holding down an infant on the ride.

Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society officials made the decision and alerted SafeWorkSA inspectors.

Russell said the ride was closed permanently.

“We were alerted to that issue by the RAHS who had shut the ride down; we then confirmed the event and issued notices indicating the ride wouldn’t be allowed to operate again.”

He denied the Royal Adelaide Show had a record worse than other similar events interstate.

“These are very rare occurrences and there have been fatalities in New South Wales and Victoria.

“While our experience has not been good, I’ll be asking other states about theirs.

“This incident aside, the Show was an outstanding success.

“By and large, all of the show rides worked as they should.”

The agency said an investigation of the death was expected to take some time, given the nature of the incident, the number of witnesses involved and the technical expertise required.

The Airmaxx 360 was a new ride for the Royal Adelaide show this year, but had operated at earlier shows in Sydney and Brisbane without incident.

 

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