Lizzie Smith, Executive Editor for Audience and Content at the Mirror, took her children on the towering City Flyer ride weeks before last night’s collapse – she describes her terrifying experience
For Birmingham visitors this festive season, the towering City Flyer ride is one of the first things you spot as you approach the city centre.
While not part of the popular Frankfurt Christmas Market, its nearby location in Centenary Square and huge height means visitors all spot it as they approach.
That’s certainly what happened when I took my three children out for a Christmas day last month. And after rejecting their pleas to buy overpriced goodies at the German market, it felt only right to treat them to a ride as we walked back to our car. The City Flyer was £8 each, with a height requirement my 9-year-old only just reached.
Usually, my 13-year-old can be relied upon to take his daredevil sister on rides, but after sizing this one up he absolutely refused, leaving me to step in, while he filmed from below. Riders wear a seatbelt, which adjusts to their waist, along with a bar to hold them in place – and on the ground, it feels secure.
As the adult, I was seated on the outside, with my daughter on the inside of our swing, and the assistants took time seating us to ensure any empty seats were staggered equally.
After being seated, we waited for ten minutes while unexplained technical issues were dealt with. Despite the various safety measures, once the ride started, I found it absolutely terrifying.
The City Flyer initially ascends halfway, with riders sat in pairs in the swings, which fly out from the side. For me, this was already a bit much. However, after a couple of minutes, it ascends again to nearer the top of the pole, which is even higher than the neighbouring Big Wheel. Up here there was far more wind than on the ground, leaving us buffeted as we swang.
There are great views, but with the wind, I was more focused on clinging onto my daughter – who was yelling with delight. We then returned safely to the ground. But having now seen pictures of the collapsed ride, I can’t help but feel annoyed with myself for taking my child on this.
In future, we’ll be avoiding fairground rides and sticking to theme parks, and I can only hope those who were injured make a swift recovery.
