Battersea's forgotten disaster that killed five children

By Lexi Iles

27th Apr 2022 | Local News

There is no memorial erected in the park or mention of the tragedy
There is no memorial erected in the park or mention of the tragedy

On May 30 it will be 50 years since the Battersea park funfair disaster that killed five children and injured 13 others.

Yesterday the BBC released a short clip interviewing three of the tragedy's survivors.

On Tuesday May 30 1972, the Big Dipper rollercoaster located in Battersea Park, malfunctioned and crashed.

One of the survivors, Hilary Wynter, told the BBC: "The worst thing for me is that there were 66 faults found and nobody has been found responsible for any wrongdoing."

A train, being hoisted up to the start of the ride, broke loose from its haulage rope.

When the emergency rollback brake failed, the cart rolled towards the station gathering speed with the back carriage jumping the rails and crashing through a barrier.

The other two carriages crashing on top of it, causing the devastating outcome.

In the park today there is no mention of the crash and its fatalities.

The events arena now stands on the ground the funfair used to be located.

Survivors of the crash are campaigning for a statue to be erected or a memorial to be in place to commemorate the crash and its victims.

Wandsworth Council responded to the BBC's clip and said: "We will shortly be joined by some of their relatives, along with survivors, in planting a memorial tree.

"We're also in discussions about a further memorial to be installed in the future."

You can watch the BBC's full video here.

     

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