Sydney Royal Easter show horror after boy is unrestrained on ride

A popular children’s ride at the Sydney Royal Easter show has been shut down after a four-year-old boy was left unrestrained in his seat and at risk of being flung into the air and badly injured.

The ‘Free Fall’ ride was moments from launching on Sunday afternoon when shocked onlookers rushed to alert ride operators that the restraint had not locked into place on Tristan Curtis’ seat.

Photos circulated online show Tristan on the ride with the restraint – which should be locked downward before the ride begins – still open above his head. Other children sitting next to him all had their restraints firmly secured.

His mother, Sky Boustani Curtis, was forced to watch on in horror as the near disaster unfolded.

‘The (operator) girl stopped the ride but didn’t get out of her booth so another father ended up getting him to climb down to him,’ she told the Daily Telegraph.

‘Myself and my husband were not tall enough to reach him.

‘They simply did not pull his harness down, didn’t check him.’ 

Mrs Curtis said her son Tristan has autism and it was ‘difficult’ to know how he was feeling following the harrowing ordeal. 

Another witness said the operator had ‘no idea’ the boy wasn’t secured. 

‘They hit emergency stop but it seems like the operator couldn’t bring the ride down and someone actually had to go up there and have his son jump into his arms,’ Eva Levy recalled. 

‘Onlookers had to scream for the ride to be stopped.’

Ms Grace later took to Facebook to warn other parents to ‘be careful’.

‘This negligence that unfolded in front of so many patrons who had to scream in order to make that woman stop the ride,’ she wrote.

‘The bar was never put down and she started the ride with no notice or checks. Make sure you’re watching the way they strap your child into a ride because clearly some of these operators are not doing their job and duty of care! Shameful no excuses!’

The terrifying incident unfolded in front of many shocked show goers, including young children (pictured crowds at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on the weekend)

Show organisers have launched an urgent investigation into the incident.

‘The safety of patrons at the Show is paramount and we have shut down the kids’ Free Fall ride following a reported issue with a harness,’ a spokeswoman said.

‘The safety systems of the ride functioned well to prevent any injury occurring and the ride will not operate again until a full investigation has been completed and the ride has been approved by specialist engineers.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Sydney Royal Easter Show and SafeWork NSW for comment. 

Operators of rides at the Sydney Royal Easter Show must comply with the SafeWork NSW Guide for Amusement Devices. 

A NSW Police spokeswoman said police were unaware of the incident, adding it was safety issue for organisers.

The Free Fall ride is located in the Kids Carnival, where patrons must be at least 110 centimetres tall and can go on the ride with or without an adult.

‘Take the plunge! The Free Fall is ideal for the young thrill seeker, a controlled drop that simulates the fear of falling – with a gentle stop bringing them safely back to earth,’ the ride description on the show’s website states. 

News of the incident has sparked horror online as hundreds called for better training of ride operators.

‘It’s time for ride attendants to get a full dose of training!!!! These rides are huge…..and dangerous….hence the word, THRILL!!! Geez, those safety features are there for a reason!’ one woman wrote on Facebook.

‘No ride should be able to start unless every harness and seat is secure and in place….it should be an automatic process.’

Shocked onlookers managed to alert the ride operators moments before the unrestrained boy (pictured far right) was flung into the air

Another added: ‘What is wrong with the operators these days. For heavens sake it’s not hard to make sure the children are strapped in properly. Can’t believe she didn’t even get out of the box to help, people like this should not be able to operate such risky rides.’

The terrifying incident comes two weeks after a teen plunged 50 metres to his death on a similar ride at a US theme park.

Tyre Sampson, 14, died after slipping out of his seat on the 430-foot Orlando Free Fall ride at the ICON Park in Florida on March 24.

Photos and audio from the 911 call suggest Tyre’s safety harness may not have been properly secured at the time.

 The St. Louis teen was visiting Orlando with his football program and sitting next to two of his best friends on the ride at the time.

The incident comes two weeks after a teen plunged to his death on the 430-foot Orlando Free Fall ride  (pictured) at the ICON Park in Florida on March 24