Tragedy at Chester-le-Street's Riverside Park
23rd July, 2006
Two women have died and a child is in a serious condition this afternoon after sustaining injuries when an inflatable exhibition broke its moorings tipping those using it on to the ground
Tragedy struck at Chester-le-Street's Riverside Park at about 3.30pm today when the Dreamscape inflatable rose up to about 30 feet in the air colliding with a post supporting a CCTV camera, which brought it to the ground. It's believed up to 30 people were on the inflatable at the time.
A 68-year-old Seaham woman and a 38-year-old woman from Chester-le-Street, taken to the University Hospital of North Durham have died as a result of their injuries. Both victims had been on the inflatable with children. They are not being identified at this stage.
A three-year-old girl from Langley Park is in a serious condition in Newcastle General Hospital. Eleven other people were injured – both children and adults – and are currently receiving treatment at the University Hospital of North Durham. At this stage we have no further details regarding the injuries sustained by these people.
A fleet of six ambulances – the first on the scene within minutes - and two air ambulances transported the injured to hospital.
Police and health and safety investigators are at the scene.
We would appeal to anyone who has film footage of the incident or any information regarding it to contact police on 0845 6060 365.
A trauma counselling service is available for any member of the public affected by this incident on 0800 068 5155.
