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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Can’t stop thinking about this

74 replies

Apple0301 · 09/08/2018 22:57

To cut a long story short, me and my 4 year old daughter had an accident at the funfair tonight. Luckily my daughter escaped unharmed but I suffered cuts and bruises.
Even though we are home and safe I can’t get over is how lucky we were that my daughter wasn’t seriously hurt.
I can’t stop replaying the accident in my head, picturing the panic on my daughters face, seeing it unfold over and over again.
Its made me feel really on edge, teary and panicky.
I know i should just except we were lucky this time but I can’t rest. I’m a mess :(

OP posts:

MipMipMip · 09/08/2018 23:34

I agree it needs reporting - shocking.

I know you won't want to hear it but I think you all need to go on a similar ride as soon as you can. Otherwise it's going to get bigger and bigger in your head and you will have lifelong fears.

Very very best of luck. I hope you all feel better soon and that you get compensation for a new phone, trousers etc.

doorframe32 · 09/08/2018 23:35

Sounds very dangerous, I always thought it was procedure that they would check everybody is seated before the rides start.

INeedNewShoes · 09/08/2018 23:36

I know you won't want to hear it but I think you all need to go on a similar ride as soon as you can.

I agree with this but I'd go to a theme park or a permanent fair where safety procedures are more likely to be in place and followed.

AjasLipstick · 09/08/2018 23:38

I disagree about the needing to go on a similar ride.

We never go on fairground rides. DH and I have always felt scared to trust them and our DC haven't shown any interest.

It's not like swimming or something which you might need. It's a fairground ride.

Freshfeelings · 09/08/2018 23:39

I'm so sorry, that sounds really scary. I know exactly what you mean about playing it over and over in your head. I had a scary funfair incident recently too and I just kept looping it over and over in my head afterwards - it's like my brain wanted to play out all the scenarios in full to kind of 'process' what happened and what could have happened. I think maybe it's how our brains deal with it? Same thing when I had a near miss on the road a while back. You feel like you should be able to just sigh with relief and move on but it's not as easy as that. Be gentle with yourself.

AjasLipstick · 09/08/2018 23:39

Shoes and I also think that permanent or not, there are many incidents of this nature.....Alton Towers is a good example. Bad accidents on supposedly trustworthy rides.

mrsjackrussell · 09/08/2018 23:39

Did you take the ride owners name? If you are injured the ride would have been insured. Did you take witnesses names?

SummerIsEasy · 09/08/2018 23:39

Report to the local council, as they give permission for funfair rides to take place in public areas. Also report it to the local Police Station.

Wellmeaning · 09/08/2018 23:42

I’m another one who thought you might just need reassurance after you tripped down some steps together or something but honestly OP, there’d be something the matter with you if you weren’t in shock after that.

Remember those poor teenagers who lost a limb at Alton Towers a couple of years ago ?
That’s Alton Towers, a really big name, you’d think they’d be virtually infallible with the checks they must do.
Please, please report to your local council. Don’t be intimidated by the workers who were giving you the hard stare; next time it happens, the child might not be so lucky.

You might feel a bit better if you respond/take positive action after what’s happened.

for both of you.

Pengggwn · 09/08/2018 23:43

Oh that sounds utterly awful and of course you are anxious and devastated.

Shock has symptoms: confusion, rapid breathing, change in colour, etc. I am no doctor (disclaimer) but if you were in shock I would be surprised to see you able to post.

However, of course you are shocked. Anybody would be.

Baumederose · 09/08/2018 23:43

You have to report this to the police and the health and safety executive. This is a very serious incident where at least 2 people could have been injured or killed.

You must report it because the next child may not be so lucky.

mrsjackrussell · 09/08/2018 23:45

I also wanted to add that all rides on pop up fairs are rigorously tested and have to have a certificate. You will find that they are as safe as permanent fairs. Look what happened at Alton Towers.

Original poster

Apple0301 · 09/08/2018 23:45

They knew when it had happened it was negligence but all came together to move the blame to us.
As we were hobbling to the accident book a member of staff was taking to the manager and I could hear, he said ‘she let her get on as it was moving’ I shot round and said are you kidding me! It was stationary and I had enough time to seat one child so how is this possible? The manager then said ahh no he didn’t say what you think he did! Even my 9 year old was cross and said we didn’t do that mummy.
They tried to make out I was overreacting when I asked for the accident book and then to take a picture of it.
I can only describe their treatment of it all as an ‘accident’ and oh well, with a feeling of being outnumbered.
We left feeling we were the wrong ones.
I think I will definitely have to take this further after reading it is as serious as I knew it was :(

OP posts:

Original poster

Apple0301 · 09/08/2018 23:48

Unfortunately I didn’t take names or pictures as it all happened so fast.

OP posts:

carameljane · 09/08/2018 23:48

I'm so sorry this has happened to you both - it sounds really shocking and awful. It is really distressing having your mind replaying it over and over again.
I just came on here to say I had similar frequent traumatic flashbacks after my daughter had a seizure, then I read somewhere that the flashbacks are part of your mind's way of processing it all and healing. All you can do is view the flashbacks like an injury that hurts but will get better in time - be brave and get through them and tell yourself your mind is adjusting to the bad thing that happened and getting stronger.
I hope this makes sense and is helpful

AjasLipstick · 09/08/2018 23:49

What was the protocol OP? Did the man in charge seat ANY people? Or was it a free for all?

Original poster

Apple0301 · 09/08/2018 23:53

I’m not sure, on other rides we were checked and seated.
We didn’t see the staff managing this ride until it had all happened.
When we approached the ride anothed child was getting on so I disng assume it was setting off just yet as usually checks are made but it was only a minute or so after this it all happened.

OP posts:

mrsjackrussell · 09/08/2018 23:54

If you can as I know that you feel traumatised go back and get the name of the ride owner otherwise you won't have a leg to stand on when reporting.

AjasLipstick · 09/08/2018 23:54

Was that child getting on with a man in attendance or just with parents or alone? Where did you pay?

AjasLipstick · 09/08/2018 23:55

I'm asking all this because they may try to turn it around on you and say you didn't follow procedure.

AjasLipstick · 09/08/2018 23:56

MrsJack it won't matter that she doesn't have the name of the owner. That's easily established by the police.

Original poster

Apple0301 · 09/08/2018 23:59

The child was being helped on by her parent/carer.
I know for a fact they would try and turn it round as they were so defensive and argumentative with us after it had just happened.
We paid at the entrance for a wristband

OP posts:

mrsjackrussell · 10/08/2018 00:00

The rides will all be owned by different people so if the fair has left you may not find out who owned that particular ride.

Original poster

Apple0301 · 10/08/2018 00:01

Thank you to everyone else for your lovely comments and replies.
I feel better knowing others have experienced this looping of the accident and it will pass x

OP posts:

AjasLipstick · 10/08/2018 00:02

MrsRussel the rides all have to be registered legally. Insured etc. It will be very simple to find out who owns it.

OP....tomorrow, write it all down as it happened. Before, during and after. Then call the police.Non emergency number.

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