A woman in her 40s is in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a malfunction on a funfair ride at the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park. The incident, which occurred on the first day of the event (June 7), also left a man in his 40s with potentially life-changing injuries.
The Lambeth Country Show reopened today (June 8), but the funfair rides remain cordoned off as investigations continue. An 11-year-old girl, a man and woman in their 40s, and a man in his 50s were taken to hospital after the ride failure. The man in his 50s and the 11-year-old girl have since been discharged, Scotland Yard reported.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 6.20 pm on Saturday. A ride topped with a giant frog is among those now behind tall black fencing.
A police spokesperson stated: “Emergency services responded at around 6.20 pm on Saturday, June 8, to a fairground ride having failed at the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park. Four people have been taken to hospital. Following a full assessment by medics, a woman in her 40s remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries. A man in his 40s is also receiving ongoing treatment for potentially life-changing injuries. The man in his 50s and the 11-year-old girl have both been discharged from hospital.”
Officers have attended the scene today alongside the Health and Safety Executive as inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances. Signs reading “apologies for any inconvenience, this ride will not open today” have been pinned to wire fencing around the fairground area. Visitors, disappointed by the closures, were seen reading the signs and speaking with fairground workers before heading off to enjoy other attractions at the event.
Lambeth Council confirmed an investigation into the incident, led by the Met Police and Health and Safety Executive, is underway. A council spokesperson said: “Very sadly, a funfair ride at the country show malfunctioned yesterday evening injuring four people. They are being cared for in hospital, and our thoughts are with them. We thank the emergency services for their swift response and for the support they are providing to the affected families. Following this incident, and to allow a full investigation, funfair rides at the show will be impacted by closures for the second day of the country show.”
Helen Hayes, the Labour parliamentary candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood, expressed her shock on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday evening: “I’m shocked to learn of the failure of a fairground ride at Lambeth Country Show earlier this evening. My thoughts are with those who were injured and all who witnessed this horrific event. Thank you to the emergency services who attended. There must now be an urgent investigation.”
The Lambeth Country Show, a free community event in Brockwell Park since 1974, annually attracts more than 120,000 people over the weekend.
