Eugene Mahauariki’s death after falling from his favourite ride at an Easter carnival six years ago was preventable and the restraints did not meet Australian standards, a coroner has found.
The six-year-old boy died in hospital four days after falling from his seat on the Cha Cha at Rye Easter Carnival in Victoria on 17 April 2017.
He lined up about 5.20pm when the last ride was called, on the final day of the carnival, with a younger and smaller friend.
Eugene was placed on the outside seat, which was meant for adults and bigger children, and slid into his friend as the ride started.
He then fell and struck his head before landing on the ground.
His parents, who worked for the ride’s operator, Wittingslow Amusements, rushed to help and Eugene was taken to hospital.
But he could not be saved and died when his life support was turned off four days after the fall.
Wittingslow Amusements was initially charged by WorkSafe with health and safety breaches, but the charges were withdrawn in 2020.
Coroner Sarah Gebert on Friday morning ruled that Eugene’s death was preventable and recommended sweeping changes to amusement park regulations.
“It’s clear that Eugene’s death was preventable,” she said.
The coroner found the restraints that were supposed to hold Eugene in place in his seat – a U-shaped rod and bar – were not compliant with Australian standards.
Further, she found the German man who was operating the ride that day was not sufficiently trained or supervised, and Michael Wittingslow did not know if he was trained or not.
She said the public held an expectation that rides such as the Cha Cha were safe for their children to ride.
As the Cha Cha was built in 1961, she said the ride was not checked as stringently as newer rides.
“The older an amusement ride was, the least stringent the regulatory regime,” she said.
The coroner said she hoped her recommendations would form part of Eugene’s legacy, and help ensure another young life is not taken on a carnival ride.
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