A LITTLE boy was killed after being flung from his favourite ride called the Cha Cha at a carnival in Australia, a coroner has confirmed.
Described as being tall for his age at 132cm, Eugene Mahauariki was able to ride without an adult, although his parents never let him ride alone.
The coroner stated the Cha Cha was Eugene’s favourite ride[/caption]
On the final day of the Rye Easter Carnival in Victoria in April 2017, however, he got in the queue with one of his friends.
“Eugene was a small child enjoying a ride at a fair on an Easter long weekend like hundreds of other children,” counsel assisting Rachel Ellyard told an inquest into his death on Monday.
“The Cha Cha is an example of many rides that are fun because they’re a bit dangerous, or at least they feel dangerous.
She added: “But parents only let their child ride because although they feel like they’re on the edge of danger, they’re actually safe.”
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While his friend, who was shorter than Eugene, was placed in the middle, Eugene was sat on the outside seat, where adults or bigger children would have been seated.
When the ride started spinning, the two boys slid in their seats and bumped into each other.
Witnesses told the investigation they saw a “frightened” looking young boy holding tight to the bar before he slipped out from underneath the bar and was flung out of his seat.
The inquest into the causes of the accident, examined by coroner Sarah Gebert which will continue over the next two weeks, heard how Eugene struck part of the ride before bouncing on to the ground beneath it.
His desperate parents Tammy White and Stacey Mahauariki heard a commotion and jumped in to help.
They are both described as working for the ride operator Wittingslow Amusements.
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Emergency services arrived at the scene before little Eugene was flown to a local hospital.
Sadly, emergency services were unable to save him and he was declared dead on April 21, 2017 after his life support was turned off.
“The loss of such a young child, and particularly in the circumstances, is undoubtedly devastating to his family, also to our community as a whole,” Gebert said.
“We collectively shudder at what has happened, and all look for answers as to why.”
The inquest continues, with workers of the Rye Easter Carnival expected to give evidence.
The ride operator was initially charged following the incident with failing to ensure people other than employees weren’t exposed to health or safety risks but charges were dropped in 2020.
The family was informed of the decision to drop the breach of work safety charges.
The owner of Wittingslow Amusements, Michael Wittingslow, is listed as a witness for the inquest but has so far refused to give evidence.
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The engineer who last assessed the Cha Cha, Hamish Munro, has also refused to give evidence.
He had examined the ride five months before the incident.
