Woman caught in mid-air after plunging from malfunctioning fair ride

A fairground ride which broke mid-air sent a young woman plunging to the ground before she was caught by a man below.

At an Easter fair in Ometepec, Mexico, where the ‘The Hammer’ ride was set up, videos caught the attraction rotating above the ground despite signs that something had gone wrong.

Footage showed the ride swinging at speed before a loud metallic jolt prompted several people nearby to run towards it.

A piece of metal was seen lying on the ground beneath the ride, while several onlookers gathered, pointing upwards, when the young woman slipped from the moving ride and dropped to the ground.

Luckily, she was caught mid-fall by a man standing beneath her, who helped steady her and get her away from the still-spinning ride.

Witnesses could be heard shouting with some begging riders to hold on as others rushed in to help.

Authorities later confirmed that four people were injured in the incident, with two of the injured being driven to receive medical care by relatives, while two more were transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Officials from the State Secretariat for Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection said the accident was caused by a mechanical fault in the ride.

The failure reportedly caused a sudden loss of stability, sending riders tumbling from their seats while the machine was still in motion.

But early reports on social media suggested human error may also have played a role.

Witnesses claimed a child approached and interfered with the ride’s controls without supervision, triggering erratic and dangerous movements.

Officials have since launched an investigation and are carrying out safety checks on other rides at the fair.

The condition of those injured has not yet been officially confirmed.

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