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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Toyin Owoseje

Footage shows moment plane crashes into Ferris wheel at funfair

Footage has been released showing the moment a light aircraft crashed into a Ferris wheel at an Australian funfair.

Pilot Paul Clarendon Cox was flying his Cheetah Sierra 200 with his son-in-law in the passenger seat when it hit the ride at the Old Bar Beach Festival in 2011.

The collision was filmed by Amber Christine Ardell, then 13, who was on the ride with her younger brother Jessie.

In the video released by the New South Wales Supreme Court on Monday, she can be heard screaming in fear as the aircraft  heads towards them.

"Oh look, Jessie, a plane. We're going to watch a plane. Oh god, it's going to crash, it's going to crash, it's going to crash. Oh my god," Ms Arndell says in the video before a loud bang is heard.

Her younger sibling can then be heard screaming for his mother before asking his sister “Are we going to drop?”

Ms Ardell does her best to reassure him that they will be OK whilst begging staff below to let them off the ride.

The video is being used as part of her lawsuit against the Greater Taree City Council.

She claimed the council owed her a duty of care and she suffers from psychological issues as a result of what happened. 

Mr Cox is also suing the council for negligence, saying it failed to close the airstrip when it knew allowing the Ferris wheel to be erected nearby would be potentially hazardous.

The council also failed to identify that the ride's location caused a potential obstruction, he stated.

Although he was physically injured, court documents state that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, specific disorder and depression as a result of the crash.

He said has also developed an obsessional fear of sharp objects, which leaves him “afraid that pens will hurt him”, the lawsuit added.

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