Terrifying moment ride breaks at Chester University festival leaving student in hospital

The frightening incident was caught on camera

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  This is the terrifying moment a panel broke free of a fast-moving fairground ride and clattered into students at the University of Chester. A student was rushed to hospital by ambulance following the incident at the Exton Park campus, Chester, on Wednesday (March 27).

  
  
  

  The annual spring festivities at ‘Chestival’, a day of activities and entertainment arranged by Chester Students’ Union, had been underway for just over an hour when a piece of the marquee ‘Superstar’ ride — billed as a thrilling ‘whirlwind at super speed’ by organisers — broke free and collided with two of the ride’s fast-moving cars, before hurtling to the ground.

  
  
  

  Video shows the large panel narrowly miss spectators as it crashes to ground, sending shards of glass flying. Caitlin Colclough, 19, a first year history and politics student, had been on the ride and was subsequently rushed to the Countess of Chester Hospital by ambulance following the incident.

  
  


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  She sustained a concussion and whiplash, and has since undergone a CT scan, according to her mother, Mandy Hancock, who spent the weekend in Chester caring for her daughter, who she says is still in shock. “I was crying my eyes out watching the video,” she said, adding: “When I watched in slow motion it was very, very scary. It has given me a few nightmares.

  
  
  

  “I don’t know if she heard the bang or not, because obviously there was a lot of screaming on the ride from people on it and enjoying it. The piece landed on them, but the ride kept going. I thought it would have had an emergency stop.”

  
  


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  Ms Hancock, from Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, said the CT scan carried out Sunday came back all clear. She added: “They [staff at Countess of Chester Hospital] said the concussion can take a few weeks to resolve. She’s having blurred vision and really bad headaches, and she’s going dizzy when she stands up which makes her feel sick.”

  
  
  

  The event continued after the incident, but the ride was shut down. Chester Students’ Union said it had informed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and that the ride was provided by an external operator. Ms Hancock, from described the response following the incident from the University and Students’ Union as “radio silence.”

  
  
  

  She said: “My concern was not just for Caitlin, but I couldn’t find any further information or anything. All that the Students’ Union published was that they were working with the Health and Safety Team.”

  
  


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  “It’s disappointing how it has been handled post-accident. The support that has been in place has been very limited. I know it was the Easter weekend, but just a note under her door would have gone a long way, just to say ‘give us a call on this number if you need anything.’

  
  
  

  “I would never say a bad word about Chester Uni, because up until this point it has been very positive, but it’s just looking at what can change moving forward.”

  
  
  

  Jamie Morris, Chief Executive Officer of Chester Students’ Union, said: “There was an incident involving a fairground ride at Chestival (a Chester Students' Union organised event held at Exton Park Campus) on Wednesday, March 27, and the ride was closed immediately.

  
  


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  “Two students were taken to hospital as a precaution and were discharged on the same day. Both the Students' Union and the University’s Wellbeing team has been in close contact with the students throughout to offer support.

  
  
  

  “The incident has been reported to the HSE to pick up with the external ride operator as necessary.”

  
  
  

  A spokesperson for North West Ambulance Service confirmed two ambulances attended the University of Chester after being called to the site at 3.10pm. There were no serious injuries and one person was taken to hospital.

  
  
  

  CheshireLive has contacted the Health and Safety Executive for comment.

  
  


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• https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/terrifying-moment-ride-breaks-chester-28927244


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