Video shows shocking moment mum flung from London funfair ride as bosses sentenced

Funfair bosses have been sentenced after a woman was left in a coma and fighting for her life after being flung out of a dangerous fairground ride in west London.

Khadra Ali, now 51, visited the Funderpark Fun Fair in Yiewlsey with two of her children when she was badly hurt in an incident on the XLerator ride.

She slipped out of the faulty seat restraint, and was left clinging on while screaming for help.

She eventually lost her grip and was flung through the air, hitting the barrier of an adjacent ride and landing on the ground.

Mrs Ali suffered a broken back, multiple rib fractures, her hip was broken in nine places, she had damage to her lungs, kidneys, and liver, and had bleeding on her brain.

She spent 49 days in a coma and a total of four months in hospital after the incident at Phillpotts Farm in Yiewsley, on April 10, 2018, and has been left with permanent damage.

She has lost function in her arms and legs, she now needs a wheelchair, and has carers to help with basic tasks including washing and dressing.

The owner of the ride, Derek Hackett, 64, manufacturer Perrin Stevens, 40, and David Geary, 65, whose company was responsible for safety checks, all pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches over the incident.

At Westminster magistrates court, Stevens, of Oakley Green Road, Windsor, was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.

Hackett, of School Street in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to an 18 week suspended prison term, and Geary, of Wenlock Road in Hackney, was handed a 44 week suspended prison sentence.

Geary’s company, DMG Technical Ltd, was also fined £51,000.

All four defendants were also ordered to pay a total of more than £70,000 in costs.

The Health and Safety Executive, which brought the criminal prosecution, has now released dramatic footage showing the moment Mrs Ali was thrown from the ride.

A spokesperson for Mrs Ali said she and her family are “deeply relieved that the criminal prosecution has concluded following the tragic incident at the Funderpark Fun Fair.

“They are grateful to everyone who has supported them throughout 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 their journey to rebuild their lives and provide her with the support she needs moving forward.

“The family remain 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.”

HSE inspector Helen Donnelly said: “Mrs 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 suffer pain and significant impact to her everyday life.

“Good health and safety management often requires multiple precautions being put in place, and often by different parties.

“This incident shows that there are serious consequences when we do not fulfil our health and safety duties and become reliant 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 have in keeping people safe.

“While this investigation has been long and complex, we hope Mrs Ali and her family will find some comfort with the sentence and see that justice has now been served.”

The HSE said its investigation had found electrical and mechanical failings in the ride seat, as well as poor maintenance of the ride.

On the day of the incident, it found there was no assistant for the ride operator, in breach of the manual, and riders’ restraint bars had not been checked before the ride begun. The lack of staff also meant Mrs Ali’s plight as she clung on to the ride was not seen.

Geary and DMG Technical Ltd admitted health and safety breaches between June 2014 and April 2018.

They admitted putting funfair visitors, including Mrs Ali, at risk of “uncontrolled ejection from the amusement ride”.

Hackett and Stevens both pleaded guilty to two health and safety breaches each.

After the ride started spinning, Mrs Ali – sitting with her daughter - slipped out of her seat and was left clinging on and screaming for help.