Worthing teenager fell from fairground ride

The ride is currently closed and under investigation

A fairground ride in Worthing, West Sussex, is being investigated after a teenager fell around 15ft from the attraction on Thursday evening.

The 18-year-old woman was taken to the Royal Sussex Hospital in nearby Brighton after she came off The Rocker ride on Marine Parade in Worthing, at around 9:30pm, according to Sussex police.

She is understood to have suffered minor injuries.

One witness said the girl lost consciousness on the ride and the momentum of the ride caused her to be thrown from her seat.

Grace Ridge-Edwards told the Argus: “I witnessed everything and I can assure you she did not try to climb out.

“She passed out into the empty seat next to her and the power of the ride caused her to fly out.”

John Mitchell, director for communities at Worthing Borough Council, said that the local authority is co-operating with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which is investigating.

He said: “Following an accident on a fairground ride at Worthing seafront last night our thoughts are with the woman injured in the accident and her family.

"We wish her a full and speedy recovery. We are grateful to the emergency services who attended the scene promptly.

"The fairground ride operators and Worthing Borough Council will fully co-operate with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and relevant authorities into the investigation that will take place.

"In the meantime, the ride will remain closed until HSE clearance is received to re-open the ride. At the current time we are unable to confirm when the investigation will be completed."

Additional reporting by PA