Aurora Starchild
These boys will think twice next time they want to have fun at a holiday fair. A terrifying video shows the moment a slingshot ride malfunctions and sends two teenagers slamming against a pole while dangling in the air. Attendees at London’s annual Hyde Park Winter Wonderland festival were horrified as they looked on.
Videos by Rare
This Slingshot Ride Fail Is Every Amusement Park Rider’s Worst Nightmare
The incident occurred past 8 pm last Wednesday. Camera footage shared on social media shows the boys getting ready for their carriage to be flung up into the air. Then, they were supposed to bounce back.
But instead, one of the bungee cords came loose. As soon as the boys were released upwards, they continued to fly up and at a diagonal. Their carriage is sideways, their limbs are dangling out of an open cylindrical ball. Then they are thrust into a massive crane-like pole supporting the other bungee.
The carriage proceeded to bounce off the pole and left the boys hanging in mid-air. Luckily, the boys were lowered down and no one was hurt after the slingshot ride failed and malfunctioned.
“Both riders were safely escorted off the ride, checked by our on-site medics and were not injured,” said a spokesperson for Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.
Slingshot Ride Shut Down Until Further Inspection
In a statement given by the annual festival, the public was assured that all their rides undergo “rigorous and regular safety checks.” Further, the festival and all of its rides remained open, with the exception of the slingshot ride.
“We inspected the ride at 7am this morning and it was found that a technical issue had occurred within a sealed gear box that controls the release of the elastic cord and steel wire rope,” said the Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme in a statement. They added that the bungee cord and steel wire rope had “not snapped or failed in any way.”
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland celebrates its 15th year this season. The 6-week-long festival began in 2007 as an open-air market. Some of its features include rollercoasters, music, vendors, shows, and an ice-skating rink.
