Eight children treated 'for potentially serious injuries' after inflatable slide collapses at Woking fireworks display
Hundreds evacuated from park to make way for air ambulance as children hurt on fairground attraction
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Your support makes all the difference.Eight children have been hurt in Woking after an inflatable slide collapsed at a fireworks display.
South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) said paramedics were treating those involved in the incident for “potentially serious” injuries.
Crowds who had attended the event in Woking Park on Saturday evening were evacuated to allow an air ambulance to land at the site, Surrey Police said.
The children have since been transported to major trauma centres in London, the SECAmb added.
Woking Rotary Club, which had organised the event, said it had been “shocked and distressed” by the incident.
“The park was cleared very effectively and emergency services are still in control of the site,” the club said in a statement on Twitter.
“We are preoccupied in ensuring the casualties are dealt with as best possible. Our thoughts are with the children and their families at the moment.
“The air ambulance has just left the park with the last casualties. Surrey Police are investigating events.”
Police initially announced a helter skelter had collapsed at the fairground, but later clarified the the equipment was a “giant inflatable slide”.
Anna Neale and her daughters, aged 10 and six, were among the hundreds of people evacuated from the park following incident.
“We saw all the blue lights and saw the air ambulance arriving,” she said, “We all evacuated very calmly. Everyone was just shocked.”
Andy Datson, who had also been in attendance at the display, said he had seen up to 40 children playing on the slide.
“If, heaven forbid, they fell from the top I would say it's at least 25 to 30 feet tall,” he added.
The park's fireworks display had been due to take place at around 8pm.
A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive said the government agency was making initial enquiries in relation to the incident.
Additional reporting by agencies
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