Skyride Collapses Skegness Amusements

By Angela Gooch on December 20th, 2008

Source: Skegness News 29th July 1987

Photos: not credited

Sky-Dive Collapses

A former school caretaker has emerged as heroine of the weekend accident in which part of the Sky-Dive chairlift at Fun City on North Parade collapsed. Mrs Iris White dashed from her tea-stall outside to help the injured and frightened.
“I love children so it all came naturally,” she told the News. “I used to be a caretaker at Little Gonerby Primary School, near Grantham.
“There was no panic, but lots of children were crying and afraid. They could see their mums lying helpless on the ground.
“It was a shocking sight. Thank God, no one was killed.”
A expectant mum was one of the 14 injured when a steel gantry snapped, causing some of the cars to slew off the wire and into the toboggan ride and dodgems rink 20 feet below.
Four were detained for observation in Pilgrim Hospital, Boston including Mrs Eileen Chandler (20), of St Neots, Cambridgeshire, whose condition is said to be comfortable. Her injuries are not related to her eight-month pregnancy.
The accident which occurred at about 9pm on Saturday, is not reckoned to be connected to a mishap two days previously when another car was found to be faulty.
On that occasion, the occupants were rescued before firemen arrived with a turn-table ladder.
This week, experts from the Health and Safety Executive at Nottingham have been inspecting the mangled wreckage and interviewing police, eye-witnesses and operators of the ride.
First indications are that bolts holding the end gantry to its base failed. Laboratory tests are being carried out for metal fatigue.
In the immediate, aftermath of the accident, accusing fingers were pointed at Coun Ron Scott who has run the Sky-Dive for the past ten of its twelve years.
On Monday, an Edinburgh Labour MP, Mr Gavin Strang, was reported to be demanding action from Government ministers.
However, the ride is said to have twice undergone safety checks over the last couple of months – including one on July 20.
In its history, many thousands have ridden on it without mishap.
Coun Scott has expressed his regret at the accident and his concern that people were injured. However, he is reserving further comment until the publication of a preliminary report – probably later this week.

Photo 1:
Mrs Doris Green of the Connaught chippie, who raised the alarm, points to the grim scene. With her is Mrs White who assisted the rescue operations.