Khadra Ali was heard screaming for help before she was thrown from the Xcelerator ride at the Funderpark funfair in Yiewsley, hitting a barrier and suffering severe injuries
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Three prosecuted after mother catapulted from London fairground ride
A mum who spent weeks in a coma when she was thrown from a funfair ride and suffered severe injuries has agreed on a settlement worth more than £1million.
Khadra Ali had not been properly restrained when she was on the Xcelerator ride at the Funderpark funfair in Yiewsley, west London, in April 2018. Once it started rotating, she screamed for help before she was thrown from the ride and hit a nearby barrier.
Mrs Ali, in her 50s, suffered multiple fractures to her back, hips, pelvis, ribs and both collarbones as well as internal bleeding and a significant head injury. Ms Ali sued Derek Hackett, the ride’s owner trading as Hackett Fairs, for damages as she was unable to do chores or activities with her children.
A High Court hearing on Wednesday was told Ms Ali had reached an out-of-court settlement with Hackett, with her lawyer, Robert Kellar KC, claiming the £1.43 million sum was “within the range of reasonable offers”.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident found the ride’s seat restraint system was designed with electrical and mechanical failings by the manufacturer, Perrin Stevens Limited, while the ride control system was set up in a way which would not have detected all failures. It said Mr Hackett failed to properly maintain the ride, but this was partly due to Perrin Stevens’s operator manual lacking information on inspection and maintenance of the seat restraint system.
The investigation also found on the day of the incident, Hackett’s ride operator had no attendant assisting them despite the operations manual requiring a minimum of two people to operate and monitor the ride. The operator did not check each rider’s restraint bar as they should have before starting the ride and did not notice Ms Ali required assistance.
Judge Rebecca Crane approved the sum at the end of the short hearing in London, describing it as “a very sensible settlement for both parties”.
Hackett was one of three men who admitted health and safety offences at Westminster Magistrates’ Court earlier this year. He received an 18-week sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to pay £4,800 in costs.
A statement from Mrs Ali’s representative said in May: “The family of Khadra Ali is deeply relieved that the criminal prosecution has concluded following the tragic incident at the Funderpark funfair. They are grateful to everyone who has supported them throughout this challenging process.
“While no outcome can undo the impact of the life-changing injuries on Khadra’s health and well-being, they hope this marks the beginning of their journey to rebuild their lives and provide her with the support she needs moving forward.
“The family remain committed to providing Khadra with the best quality of life possible. They respectfully request privacy as they continue to focus on caring for Khadra and facing the challenges ahead.”
