SHOCKING footage shows the moment a 45-year-old mother was catapulted out of the Xcelerator amusement park after her seat broke.
Khadra Ali was thrown into the air after not being properly restrained in her seat at the dangerous amusement park in Hillingdon, London.
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As horrified onlookers watched, the terrified mother crashed into the barrier of the next ride and fell to the ground.
Ms Ali spent the following weeks in a coma and four months in hospital following the incident at Funderpark amusement park in Yiewsley on April 10, 2018.
The mother suffered multiple fractures to her back, hips, pelvis, ribs, both collarbones, as well as internal bleeding and a significant head injury.
Mrs Ali had taken part in the fast Xcelerator ride alongside her daughter, who was fortunately unharmed.
Now, video footage of the horrific incident has been published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the prosecution of a company and three individuals, who have received suspended prison sentences.
As the ride gained speed, Ms Ali screamed for help and clung on for some time before being violently thrown.
But although she survived her horrific injuries, Mrs Ali, who is now 51, can no longer do chores or activities with her children.
She has lost the function of her arms and legs and has caregivers to help her with basic tasks, including washing and dressing.
The HSE investigation found that the ride seat restraint system was designed with electrical and mechanical faults by the manufacturer, Perrin Stevens Limited.
The steering control system was configured so that it did not detect all faults.
Derek Hackett, the attraction’s owner who trades as Hackett Fairs, failed to maintain the attraction properly, an investigation has found.
This failure was due in part to a lack of information in the Perrin Stevens operator’s manual regarding inspection and maintenance of the seat restraint system.
The investigation also found that on the day of the incident the operator of Mr Hackett’s rideshare had no attendant to assist him.
This cruel error occurred despite the operations manual requiring a minimum of two people to operate and monitor the ride.
Crucially, the operator did not check each rider’s restraint bar as he should have before starting the ride, and did not even realize that Ms Ali needed assistance and stopped the ride.
DMG Technical Ltd was the appointed inspection body and had overall control of the annual in-service inspection of the ride and responsibility for issuing the declaration of operating conformity (DOC).
David Geary, director of DMG Technical Ltd, completed the annual inspection in 2017 and did not identify any faulty switches or maintenance issues.
Geary completed initial testing and authorized the ride for use in 2013.
He also completed the required design review of the ride, but was unable to identify electrical and mechanical flaws in the design.
The attraction had been in use for several months before the design review was approved by Mr. Geary.
The attraction’s owner Derek Hackett, 64, manufacturer Perrin Stevens, 40, and David Geary, 65, whose company was responsible for safety checks, pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches during the incident.
‘JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED’
At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 7 May 2024, they determined their sentences.
Perrin Stevens pleaded guilty as a director of Perrin Stevens Ltd (dissolved) that his offense under Section 6(1)(a) and Section 6(1a)(d) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. consent, connivance and/or negligence, whereby he was guilty of an offense contrary to Section 33(1)(a) by virtue of Section 37(1) of the Act.
Stevens was sentenced to a 32-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £11,444 in costs.
David Geary pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
He also pleaded guilty as a director of DMG Technical Ltd because his offense was attributable to his consent, connivance and/or negligence, whereby he was guilty of an offense contrary to Section 33(1)(a) by virtue of Section 37( 1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, etc. from 1974.
Geary was sentenced to a 44-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £24,000 in costs.
Derek Hackett pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Hackett was sentenced to an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £4,800 in costs.
DMG Technical Ltd, of Wenlock Road, Hackney, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company was fined £51,000 and ordered to pay £30,000 in costs.
‘TRAGIC INCIDENT’
HSE Inspector Helen Donnelly said: “Ms Ali was simply enjoying a day out with her children in what she expected to be a safe environment. As a result, she continues to experience pain and a significant impact on her daily life.
“Good health and safety management often requires the implementation of multiple precautions, often by different parties.
“This incident shows that there are serious consequences when we fail to comply with our health and safety duties and become dependent on the actions of others to ensure the safety of workers and the public.
“Good health and safety is a collective effort and we must all take responsibility for the role we play in keeping people safe.
“Although this investigation has been long and complex, we hope that Ms. Ali and her family find some comfort in the sentence and ensure that justice has now been served.”
A statement from Ms Ali’s representative said: “Khadra Ali’s family is deeply relieved that the criminal case has been concluded following the tragic incident at the Funderpark Fun Fair.
“They are grateful to everyone who supported them through this challenging process.
“While no outcome can undo the impact of the life-changing injuries on Khadra’s health and well-being, they hope this marks the beginning of her journey to rebuilding her lives and providing her with the support she needs to move forward. in front.
“The family remains committed to providing Khadra with the best quality of life possible.
“They respectfully request privacy as they continue to focus on caring for Khadra and facing the challenges ahead.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
