SYDNEY -- An eight-year-old girl has died after being flung from a ride at the Royal Adelaide Show.
ABC News reported the girl fell from the Air Maxx 360 on to concrete just before 12:30 p.m. local time on Friday.
Ambulance crews treated the victim at the scene, before she was rushed to Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital. The girl died a short time later at the hospital.
Safety officers inspecting the ride a young girl was flung off at the Royal Adelaide Show. @abcnews #Adelaide pic.twitter.com/99zme2zlrB— Alina Eacott (@AlinaEacott) September 12, 2014
Witness Malinda Dunwoodie, 17, told News Corporation it appeared the victim had slipped out of her seat as the ride, which had multiple spinning arms, was in motion.
"She was hanging by her legs off the ride, trying to block herself. She went flying through the air about 10-15m up in the air and I started sprinting towards her," Dunwoodie said.
“I was shaking so much, she looked like a doll flying through the air," she said. “It was so shocking -- it was like a horror movie. I didn’t see her land in the crowd but when I made it over to her I couldn’t see her eyes moving. Everyone was screaming.”
Reports that young woman has come off a ride @9NewsAdel #9News @theTiser #adelshow pic.twitter.com/l2W8rUUPXU— Amanda Lee (@PobbleManda) September 12, 2014
UPDATE: Girl, 8 involved in accident on ride @adelaideshow has died @SafeWorkSA confirms http://t.co/4uYyudVkyp pic.twitter.com/FIwHcYgyl8— The Advertiser (@theTiser) September 12, 2014
Dennis Lock, a Police Chief Inspector in Sturt, Adelaide, shared his condolences in a statement to the media.
"Our thoughts are with the child's family following this tragic and sad incident," he said. "I would like to thank all the emergency services people, Royal Show assistants and the numerous members of the public that quickly came to the aid of the girl."
A spokesperson for the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society told ABC News they would work with authorities to find out what went wrong.
"The ride, Air Maxx 360, was a new ride for the Royal Adelaide Show this year," he said. "However, it operated at both the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and the Brisbane show only a few weeks ago without incident."
"All rides at the show must pass a national compliance audit prior to the show opening and undergo daily checks by operators. This will be the subject of a thorough investigation and our heartfelt condolences are with the family."
Rides cordoned off after a teenage girl fell from a ride at the Royal #Adelaide Show. pic.twitter.com/jP8UFcQRpO— ABC News Adelaide (@abcnewsAdelaide) September 12, 2014
Police remain are working with SafeWork SA to investigate how the incident occurred.