Cory Butcher Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Family killed in Ferris wheel fall Story Highlights Five people -- all from the same family -- fall to their deaths from a Ferris wheel Ride was part of World Carnival mobile amusement park in Busan, South Korea Family died when window fell out of car and they were tipped out backwards Two family members survived uninjured by clinging to a handrail SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Five family members fell 65 feet to their deaths from a Ferris wheel Monday after the car they were riding in unexpectedly overturned at an amusement park, police said. Two members of the family in the car clung to handholds and survived without injury, police officer Yoon Jae-man said. Jeon Un-sung, 70, one of those rescued from the ill-fated car in the southern city of Busan, said "the slowly moving gondola suddenly stopped and turned upside down and family members fell in a flash" when the window behind the seats fell out of the car, according to Yonhap news agency. Among the dead were a 68-year-old woman, a seven-year-old boy and two others killed at the scene, police said. A 28-year-old woman who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment died later. The 216-foot-high "Giant Wheel" ride has 42 cars. It was among about 30 rides at the World Carnival mobile amusement park that opened in Busan last month for a 40-day run after arriving from Hong Kong, Yonhap reported. Police were still investigating the accident and interviewing witnesses, Yoon said. The amusement park did not answer repeated calls. http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/...ferriswheel.ap/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deb Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Oh wow. How terrible. My thoughts are with the family. Who'd think that a FERRIS WHEEL could cause such tragedy. deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 well actually, in a simple internet search I was able to count over 5 incidences where a Ferris Wheel has caused significant injury or death this year. I am willing to bet there are many more that I didn't see. It just is truly a sad state of affairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deb Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 oh wow. That's just crazy. It's odd how these incidents haven't made the news in the same way as all the other ones have. deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 I think that there are no instances where a death on a ferris wheel should be less publicized than a death on a scrambler ride, but some news agencies seem to think otherwise and I think that I know why. If you look at all the serious injuries on Ferris wheels that I came across, they all happened at FAIRS, or carnivals. Whereas, all the others such as those on Roller coasters or drop rides occured at big amusement parks. Even the scrambler accident at Playland was publicized more when the accident first happened, than any of these ferris wheel accidents during the same time interval. Now it seems to be [not that this is right in any means] that people have become somewhat accustomed to accidents occuring at fairs and festivals, moreso than accidents occuring at big time theme parks where a major accident is not only completely unacceptable, but typically less likely to happen. I believe that news agencies realize that shock value of an accident at a big-chain theme park is much greater than that of an accident at a festival on the West coast in San Juan, or a continent away. I will never suggest that this is done to push advertising value, purchase power, or readership levels to extremes, but I think that the editors of newspapers are probably just as absorbed into certain stories rather than others as the populace is which by my model would mean that they may find a story about a fatal ferris wheel accident at a county fair not nearly as important as 5 family members minorly injured at the Happiest place on earth on Kali River Rapids. This story however may find greater press time than the other incidents just based on death toll alone...which yes is sad, but 5 fatalities is uncomprehendable to most all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenban Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I hate to say it but I can find story after story of people hurt or killed on Ferris Wheels. A 3 year old boy fell out of one only a week ago in Union City, OH. The only thing I can think of is that there should have been bars over the windows in case the car locked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Protruding bolt blamed: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/23/...el-Accident.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upstop Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Remind me not to ride any rides in Asia.....apparently maintainence IS and issue there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italianchef Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 That is a terrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. On a side note, I have visited South Korea and Lotte World - its biggest amusement park, which is all indoors. I was impress with the nation, its food, culture, temples, and amusement park. This horrible accident doesn't reflect on South Korea any more than an accident - such as SFKK - reflects on the United States. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.