Aussie student hurt on The Ship
A friendly Australian exchange student at Kanonkop High School, Jimmy Gentle (15), sustained nasty injuries on Saturday night in an accident on a Ranger ride at the merry-go-round at the Cosmos Festival.
Jimmy suffered an open wound on his head and a broken tooth.
According to Megan Lowe (15), a pupil of Kanonkop High School, she and Jimmy shared a cubicle of the ride, which is also known as ‘The Ship’.
It already started gaining momentum when she realized the steel arms that hold them in place were not entirely fixed. Then other kids started to scream.
The operator, however, didn’t hear the screams as the excitement always seems the same.
Megan said she tightly clung onto the steel arms, but the moment the ride motioned across, Jimmy fell head first on the steel cage. With horror she saw him fall back and forth as the ride continued.
Bystanders eventually realized that the screams were real and ran to inform the operator – who immediately slowed down the hydraulic system of the ride until it stopped.
Once the paramedics arrived at the scene, Jimmy was already out of the cubicle and placed on the ground.
At the Life Midmed Hospital a CT scan showed that he suffered concussion and swelling on his brain. He broke a tooth and had a gash on his head.
Jimmy may not play sport for six weeks and this was disappointing for the young lad because he was to partake in a Rugby Tour on Sunday. He still went with the team but only for moral support.
Megan also bumped her head and her parents also took her for a CT scan that night, but she fortunately no serious injuries.
•The owner of the Carousel, Mr Chris Blanché was upset when he learned of the accident.
He said he recently had all the gear mechanism of the Ranger replaced and it is only the second show since the service.
He immediately stopped all rides on the Ranger and said that the machine will not be put back into operation until they find and correct the problem.
Mr Blanche said he’ll inspect the entire machine himself and if required will install seat belts for additional safety. He also undertook to pay all Jimmy ’s medical expenses, which is about R15 000, that has already been paid.
