“All rides including the Ferris wheel undergo a full inspection and sign off bi-annually which was completed in August 2026 prior to the start of the season,” the statement read.
“Maintenance on all gear is done thoroughly through the off-season and weekly during the season.
“Following Saturday’s incident, the ride is being assessed by WorkSafe and professional engineers, which we are co-operating fully with the relevant authorities and will continue to do so.”
Two teenagers fell 12m from a Ferris wheel at an agricultural show on the West Coast, injuring themselves and a person below. Photo / Greymouth Star
Sturgeon Amusements said their thoughts were with the three girls affected, and despite attempts to contact them and their families directly, they had been unable to do so.
“Our thoughts are first and foremost with the three young girls affected by this incident and their families and recognise the distressing experience this has been for them and their loved ones,” the statement read.
“We have been very keen to contact the affected families to pass on our personal well wishes.
“Unfortunately, the contact details provided to us have been incorrect, and despite our desire to reach out, we have not yet been able to contact them directly.
“We sincerely hope the families know that our thoughts are with them and that we genuinely wish the girls well in their recovery.”
They expressed gratitude for the support from those first to come to the aid of the girls following the incident.
“Our sincere thanks also go to St John, the on-site medical team, police and all first responders who attended and ensured those affected received care and assistance as quickly as possible.”
They also acknowledged the AgFest West Coast organisers “for delivering a fantastic and successful event”.
“It is incredibly devastating that an incident such as this occurred towards the end of what had been a great event, and we extend our appreciation to the organisers and everyone involved in managing the situation.
“We would also like to clarify that the initial contact made with Sturgeon Amusements following the incident was with a member of another crew who was not present at or attending AgFest West Coast that day.”
AgFest managing director Andy Thompson said yesterday that he didn’t see the incident but was called through radio communications and told there’d “been an incident at the Ferris wheel”.
“I got there and found an ambulance on site and also two girls on the ground and one girl who had been hit as the other girls fell.”
Thompson said he understood the pair had fallen out of the cages as the Ferris wheel was coming down.
“They were lucky to fall on the ground, on the grass, and so didn’t hit any of the actual cage or part of the Ferris wheel itself as they came down.”
Thompson said emergency services arrived shortly after.
One of the victims, who spoke to the Greymouth Star on the condition of anonymity, said she and her friend, both aged 15, were sitting in the carriage when her friend grabbed the sidebar or grate “and then it kind of just broke off really easily”.
“We were at the top and it [the broken piece] hooked on to another piece of metal – we thought it would break off, but the whole cart started tipping forward and we were nearly upside down,” she told the Greymouth Star.
“The operators basically said we jumped [out], and that we were rocking it, and that’s how it happened.
“But we weren’t rocking it at the time.
”I want to make it known we did not jump and we were not rocking. The cart broke easily – it was not our fault.”
Hato Hone St John said it was notified of a fall incident at Aerodrome Rd, Blaketown, at 3.09pm on Saturday.
Two people were assessed at the scene, with both transported to Greymouth Hospital.
One person sustained moderate injuries, while another had minor injuries.