Woman in hospital as Birmingham fair ride ‘dropped to ground’

A woman has been taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be serious following reports of an incident with a fairground ride in Birmingham city centre.

Officers and paramedics rushed to the scene in Centenary Square at 19:29 GMT on Thursday, after “reports of an issue with one of the rides,” West Midlands Police said.

West Midlands Fire Service said the ride “failed and crashed,” adding that it “dropped to ground level whilst in operation.”

Images taken by the BBC show wires from at least two gondolas on the 55m tall City Flyer ride tangled up with each other.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said 11 other patients were assessed and discharged at the scene.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said a “small number of people are being treated at the scene by paramedics,” but no serious injuries had been reported.

A police cordon is currently in place between the ice rink, the library and the Rep theatre, with people asked to avoid the area.

One witness at the scene told the BBC he saw “girls who appeared to be injured” walking away from the area, with “one girl who seemed to have her face cut”.

Lilly Nitsch, 18, from Leamington Spa, was at the scene and told the BBC she was “pretty shocked” by the incident.

“That’s one of my favourite rides growing up,” she said.

“It makes me think of of the times you’ve been on rides like that. It makes me feel lucky.”

The City Flyer ride, run by funfair suppliers Danter Attractions, has been described as “one of the tallest rides around”.

Amelie Huet, 18, was in the ice skate bar nearby with a group of friends during the incident.

She told the BBC she heard sirens and went out to the balcony, where she saw ambulances, police cars and fire engines.

“Someone told us the structure dropped and someone fell out,” she said.