Galactic Carnival Edinburgh closes after waltzer car crashes off track with children inside

12 May 2025, 12:43 | Updated: 12 May 2025, 15:16

A carnival has closed down after a waltzer car broke off its track and crashed, with three children inside.

No one was seriously injured in the incident, which occurred at the Galactic Carnival fairground in Edinburgh's Wester Hailes on Saturday evening.

Dad Kevin McNulty, whose children aged 13, 12, and seven were inside the car, said the ride was going "full pelt" when the carriage separated from the carousel and crashed into one he was riding in, before sliding into a speaker.

One of the children was filming at the time, with the video capturing the youngsters' screams during the crash.

Posting on Facebook, Mr McNulty said: "Thankfully there was a heavy large speaker that they collided with or they would have been through the whole thing and then the ending would have been a completely different story - a thought I can't stop thinking about."

He added: "My kids are very, very lucky that they managed to get out of this still walking."

The carnival had been scheduled to run between 2-25 May, but organisers have pulled the plug on the festivities amid an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

In a Facebook post signed by the "Galactic Carnival team", it was said first aid was offered to those involved in the incident and "no ambulance was required".

The statement added: "Galactic Carnival sincerely apologises to the families who have gone through this experience, and will be working tirelessly to assist in the ongoing investigation.

"We are truly sorry for the distress caused by the incident at our event. Public safety at our events has always been, and continues to be, our top priority."

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The organisers said all rides "undergo extensive safety testing" in line with government guidelines, including daily safety checks, and are additionally inspected by the Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS).

The statement ended: "This incident is now being investigated by third party inspection bodies and the Health and Safety Executive.

"We have decided to close the event to allow for investigation to take place.

"All tickets purchased for future dates will be refunded automatically through our ticketing agent Skiddle.

"Once again we are truly sorry for the distress this has caused."

A spokesperson for HSE said it was aware of the incident and was "making inquiries".

(c) Sky News 2025: Galactic Carnival Edinburgh closes after waltzer car crashes off track with children inside