Woman hit on rollercoaster tracks in a ‘tragic accident’, show boss says
Staff at the Melbourne Royal Show did not see the moment a woman was struck in a “tragic accident” by a rollercoaster ride on Sunday, the event’s boss says.
A 26-year-old was struck at the show when she reportedly went to retrieve a mobile phone on the tracks of the Rebel Coaster about 5.45pm on Sunday, according to Victoria Police.
Workers were seen attending to the ride after the incident.Credit:Nine
The woman remains in a critical condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The show’s chief executive Brad Jenkins told ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday morning staff at the ride did not witness what took place.
“[None of our] our staff, were there witnessing what happened,” he told Virginia Trioli on Melbourne radio.
The injury happened on the fourth day of the show.Credit:Nathan Sandars
He also said he “couldn’t comment” about whether there was ordinarily a fence around the ride or how the woman was able to access the tracks.
There are operators down at each of the rides and each is signed up by WorkSafe for their procedures, he said.
“They are obviously devastated as well as the whole show community,” he said of the ride operator.
“Everyone is totally devastated.”
The show’s boss said it appeared the woman went to recover her phone.
“It was a tragic accident,” Jenkins said and added thoughts were with the woman’s family.
A spokeswoman for WorkSafe Victoria said the safety watchdog was “making enquiries” into what happened at the ride.
Vision from the scene showed staff carrying out works on the rollercoaster that appeared to stop.
The show issued a statement on Sunday confirming the woman was injured on the Rebel Coaster ride.
In the statement it said, “no one has fallen from the ride”.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident to contact police or Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000).
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