Cape Town - What was meant to be a jolly night out at the fun park, turned into one of horror for a young college student, who fell out of one of the rides.
Luchian Springveldt, 20, was flung several metres through the air after the locking mechanism on the adrenaline-inducing Twister mysteriously opened.
Springveldt managed to push his girlfriend’s back into her seat, but was too late to save himself.
His girlfriend who was with him on the ride could only look on in horror as he hit the ground, and thought he was dead.
Granique Floris, 20, said she was almost a victim herself when her lock opened again, and she had to cling on for dear life, screaming in fear.
Doctors say Springveldt is lucky to be alive, but he has a fractured pelvis. The injury is so severe that they fear it might affect major organs in his lower body and he will have to undergo several operations to repair the damage.
Springveldt’s family is now considering taking legal action against Cape Amusement Centre, which runs the fair.
He and Granique, also 20, went to the local carnival in Trappes Street, Worcester, for a jolly night out on Friday.
Granique, who is still shaken from the incident, said she had a funny feeling when Springveldt suggested they go on The Twister – an adrenaline ride which twists on its axis and tilts and rotates from side to side.
“When we got on the ride, it was hanging a bit skew, and when it started moving it was hanging to the one side and I looked at Springveldt [questioning its safety],” Granique said softly.
She said as the dangerous ride started speeding up, things took a turn for the worse.
“The rail which held us secure came loose. As soon as he saw my rail was loose, he immediately pushed it closed, but wasn’t quick enough to close his own. That is when he was thrown off,” she said.
She screamed for the operator to stop the ride, but he must have thought she was shrieking from the excitement, “like everyone usually does”.
About two minutes later the ride stopped, and she rushed over to Springveldt who was conscious but disoriented.
“He asked a lot of questions, but I didn’t understand him, next thing I knew the ambulance arrived and took him away, it all happened so fast,” she adds.
Springveldt was admitted to Worcester Mediclinic with a fractured pelvis, which doctors told family could lead to damage to his bladder and intestines. He will be undergoing his first op on Friday to repair his pelvis.
His worried parents Laurette and Charles Springveldt say they approached their local police station for help, and they were advised to speak to a lawyer.
“His injury is more than physical, it’s emotional,” said his dad.
“We have also consulted with our lawyer as to the steps we can take lawfully.”
His mom said that her son will be bedridden for at least a month.
The parents say the carnival owner, Francois Kriel of Cape Amusement Centre, came to see them and visited Springveldt in hospital on Sunday.
Kriel insists all his rides are checked by his engineer before an event.
“The ride has been working for over 15 years, I don’t know what happened, but it was an accident, accidents do happen. I have spoken to the family and offered to help out where I can.”
Kriel has confirmed that the carnival will be going ahead this weekend “as per normal”.
Breedevallei Municipality spokesman Johan Botha said an inspection was carried out at the carnival on Thursday.
“The safety plan met all the requirements and an event certificate was issued to the organisers,” he said.
Daily Voice