Five injured in swing chair ride accident in Bavaria

At least five people were injured in an accident involving a swing chair ride at the Spring Festival in the southern German city of Bayreuth, the police said on Monday.

A police spokesman said that three of them sustained moderate injuries, while two suffered minor injuries. Among those affected were reportedly four minors and one adult. Previously, the police had mentioned six injured individuals.

The ride was reportedly in operation with several people on board early Monday evening. During the descent, the swing chairs were said to have spun too quickly. As a result of the larger radius, they collided with several surrounding poles of lamps and advertising stands.

Initial findings suggest that a technical defect prevented the swing chairs from slowing down.

Numerous rescue workers were reportedly at the scene of the accident at the fairground.

The Spring Festival in the Bavarian city continued after the incident, with only the area around the swing chair carousel being cordoned off.

The Red Cross set up a care centre for any further potential injuries. Witnesses are asked to contact the police. An expert has been brought in for the investigation.

Rides are generally subjected to a thorough inspection by external experts before the start of festivals. Nevertheless, accidents occasionally occur, although they usually end without serious consequences.

At the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich in 2023, some people were slightly injured in a collision between two roller coaster cars. The incident ended without serious consequences: those affected received outpatient care. On a family roller coaster, one car rolled into another at low speed.

There was a fatal accident in August 2022 at the Klotten amusement park in Cochem, in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate. A 57-year-old woman died after falling from a moving roller coaster. According to a TÜV safety board report, the roller coaster was technically safe at the time of the incident.