An amusement ride at Auckland's Easter Show has been closed after a man was thrown several metres to the ground when it malfunctioned today.
The man, believed to be the owner or operator, was working on a roller coaster about 11am when the accident happened. He fell between six and eight
metres,
Occupational Safety and Health regional manager John Forrest said the man was unconscious when he was taken to Auckland Hospital in an ambulance.
Ambulance staff said the man had serious head injuries.
Mr Forrest said safety inspectors had started an inquiry and the roller coaster would stay closed until it had been cleared by engineers.
He said the inquiry would also determine if it was properly certified.
Mr Forrest said the man was either thrown or fell off when the roller coaster had a mechanical failure.
"He was carrying out maintenance and somehow there was a mechanical failure and he has ended up on the ground."
Mr Forrest said amusement rides were certified every year but it was not known if the machine the man fell from had a current certificate.
"They are getting an engineer into check out the machine to see if it can be restarted. It won't be used until such time as the engineer signs it off," Mr Forrest said.
- NZPA
