Best of the web: Safety criticised over slide

Amelia Peck, 12, of Ashhurst, was injured after the slide collapsed, something friend Caleb Larsen, 14, of Masterton, witnessed. Photo / File

Online readers had scathing comments about the management of a giant inflatable slide that collapsed at the Masterton A&P show last Saturday.

Six children were injured after falling from Event Fun Ltd's 14m high "Mammoth Slide".

An untrained amusement ride worker told the Times-Age the rides were understaffed and there was a lack of safety training.

Dani Marie Cottle said there were not enough people stationed on the slide to monitor it.

"We saw one lady on her own who was running it and no one was paying attention to the rules as she was explaining them.

"If there was also another person at the back then they could allow one up at a time.

"Unfortunately that didn't happen and it was overloaded on one side. Those poor littlies. We were in front of it all and saw how horrible it was. This was so preventable."

Ashleigh Velman said it wasn't right. "The owners of the slides should have someone to give them a serious talk to.

"The workers should deserve much better than this, with proper training in how to operate these things safely."

Tonianne Rose said it should have had an operator.

"That operator should by right have been running the slide and giving the appropriate amount of children their turns."

Margaret Mcnaughton said people shouldn't blame the workers. "It seems they have gone through enough, the question that has to be answered is where were the parents of these children?"

Jackie McCullough said: "Blaming the parents? It wasn't the parents who were in charge of the rides - it was Event Fun. I do not blame the workers - I blame the management."

Chrystal Sigvertsen said: "As a parent, I would expect the people running the show would know what they are doing.

"There should of been more people on, with better training. It's that simple. The company running the rides is to blame not the kids."

Tanya Glasson said just more staff would have been a start.

"One person is not enough and it is inexcusable to place blame on parents, children and this poor woman."

Jasmine Hawthorn said sadly, it didn't surprise her.

"I have been to this show a few times now and some of the people operating it are just so blase about safety and it's made very obvious."