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A woman, 18, has been left with life-changing injuries after her hair got stuck in a fun fair ride.
The horrifying incident happened at Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show in the village of Netley Marsh, Hampshire, just before 11pm yesterday.
The incident occurred when the woman’s hair allegedly became entangled in a series of moving rollers on the floor of the Fun House attraction, as a witness recounted, according to The Standard.
Nurse Emma Perry luckily happened to be on hand to help when the girl’s friend rushed off the ride desperate for assistance with attending to her terrible injuries.
The practitioner, 51, who works at nearby Southampton General Hospital, said the woman was bleeding, ‘screaming’ and ‘clearly very distressed’ after ‘three-quarters’ of her scalp had been ‘ripped off’, The Echo reports.
This is known as a ‘degloving incident’, when skin and soft tissue are torn from the muscle, connective tissue or bone underneath them.
The highly serious injury often causes massive blood loss and tissue death – and can be fatal.
Emergency services rushed the teen to hospital, after a section of the ride had to be cut by firefighters to extract her.
The horrifying incident happened at Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show (pictured, file photo) in the village of Netley Marsh, Hampshire, just before 11pm yesterday
It came after the woman reportedly got her hair trapped in a set of moving rollers on the floor of the ride, a witness said. Pictured: File photo of Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show
Emergency services rushed the teen to hospital – and event organiser Charles Cole dubbed it a ‘freak accident’, which is under investigation. Pictured: File photo
Event organiser Charles Cole dubbed it a ‘freak accident’, which is under investigation.
He continued: ‘Nobody wants to hurt anyone, and we are a family business. Last night was very upsetting, especially for the man who owns the ride.
‘Safety is our priority, and we sympathise with the girl and her parents.’
The ride was closed for the rest of the three-day fair, which ended today.
But a post on the fair’s Facebook page said today: ‘Good morning from day three of the show.
‘Despite what you may have read or seen online, we are open and look forward to seeing you all!’
Nurse Ms Perry, who had been a visitor at the funfair with her 17-year-old daughter, recalled she ‘cradled’ the girl’s head and talked to her as first responders worked.
She described the incident as ‘traumatic’, adding: ‘I stayed with her, that is all I did really. I really feel for her and her family, they are the main priority.’
A Hampshire Police spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 10.53pm on July 26 with reports that an 18-year-old woman had sustained potentially life-changing injuries’. Pictured: File photo
The nurse questioned if funfairs like this are safe in the wake of the incident and hoped the woman made a full recovery, emphasising this should never happen again.
Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show, held on Meadow Mead Farm in the New Forest, near the town of Totton, has been held annually since 1971.
It offers a range of attractions, including shows of steam engines, classic cars, motorcycles, horses and commercial, farm and works vehicles.
There are also steam engine models, jousting tournaments, children’s entertainers, dog agility courses, falconry shows and more.
Hampshire county councillor David Harrison said he is ‘shocked and saddened’ by the incident.
The Marchwood and Totton South representative added: ‘I am sure it will be properly investigated and any necessary action taken.
‘My thoughts are with the injured person, family and friends.’
A Hampshire Police spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 10.53pm on July 26 with reports that an 18-year-old woman had sustained potentially life-changing injuries to her head while on a ride at Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show.
‘She was taken to hospital for treatment.
‘Police attended and have liaised with the Health and Safety Executive.’
Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show has been approached for comment.
