Girl speaks of funfair ride crash

Zoe did not know if she would get out alive

A 14-year-old girl who was on a fairground ride which collapsed - leaving five people in hospital - did not know if she would "get out alive".

Zoe Clarke became trapped on the ride at a bonfire display at Melford Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk, on Friday, when the car she was in was crushed.

Zoe, from Glemsford, Suffolk, said: "I did not know if I would get out alive.

"I just feel relieved nothing worse happened because it could so easily have killed us all."

Zoe recalled how the Hellraiser ride started "juddering up and down" before it left its tracks, shortly before 2100 GMT at the bonfire night.

"We thought it was part of the ride, then it crashed", she said.

The paramedics said I was lucky not to break my legs Zoe Clarke

"The car behind had gone into us and we had gone into the car in front so we were trapped.

"My legs were scrunched and the bar was against my chest. The paramedics said I was lucky not to break my legs.

"The fire crews had to take out the car behind us so we had more room to breathe, then they cut the seat bar off."

Police and officers from the Health and Safety Executive have begun an investigation into the accident. The event has been closed.

Suffolk Police said the injuries to the five people on the ride are "not as serious as first thought", and West Suffolk Hospital have confirmed that four of the victims have now been released from hospital

A 20-year-old man is still being treated for leg injuries.

Five people were taken to hospital when the ride collapsed

An ambulance service spokesman said: The ride appeared to have either gone off its rail or off its central hinge.

"There were about 30 people on the ride when it came to a sudden halt.

"Five people were taken to hospital and they were aged between 17 and 25. Four were female and there was one 17-year-old male."

Paramedics described the ride as a ground-level spinning machine.

About 10,000 people were at the 39th Big Night Out - an annual event at Melford Hall which raises money for charity.