A Technical Safety BC investigation has revealed that a nine-year-old boy was helping operate a carnival ride on Vancouver Island when a passenger fell several feet to the ground and was seriously injured earlier this year.
The incident happened on May 31st, while a unnamed travelling amusement company was operating the popular Zipper ride during a community fair in Port Hardy.
Investigators say the accident occurred when the ride operator activated the controls too soon, causing a passenger compartment to lift roughly two metres off the ground while its door was still open and one person remained inside.
The rider fell out and was taken to hospital with multiple injuries.
The report says the nine-year-old boy—identified as the foreman’s son—had been helping load and unload riders and was described as “really good at cracking buckets,” a carnival term for handling the Zipper’s cage-like cars.
When the ride stopped, the boy opened the door for two passengers described as intoxicated. One person exited quickly, but the second took longer to move.
Believing the ride was ready, the child yelled “next.” Moments later, the operator pressed the button to move the next cars into position, not realizing the door was still open.
There was no communication system or safety confirmation between attendants and the operator before the ride was moved.
Technical Safety BC found that both riders appeared drunk and had a bottle of alcohol in the compartment. Despite warning signs prohibiting intoxicated people from riding, attendants told investigators they often allowed such passengers on board to avoid confrontation.
The boy told investigators the woman who fell was “half asleep and half awake” when the door was opened.
The report also revealed that the child had no formal training, only experience gained by watching and helping during other events.
The foreman had briefly left to wash up when the incident occurred.
The amusement company has been operating under its current owner since 2020 and employs about 36 people, including family members and seasonal workers.
The owner has more than 40 years of experience in the amusement industry. Technical Safety BC did not name the company but described it as a travelling business that sets up portable rides at fairs and community events across the province.
Investigators found there were no written safety procedures, no refresher training for returning workers, and no guidance for attendants on denying intoxicated riders entry.
The Zipper ride involved in the incident was built in 1973 and lacks modern safety features that prevent movement if a door or restraint is open.
The control panel uses a single activation button, meaning the ride can move with just one press. The ride’s foreman told investigators a “finger slip” could easily happen and said spring-loaded buttons would make the operation safer.
Technical Safety BC classified the incident as moderate in severity and determined it was caused by the activation of the ride while a door was open and a passenger unrestrained. Investigators said the combination of outdated ride design, inadequate training, poor communication, and a lack of oversight all contributed to the fall.
The agency said the case highlights the need for stronger safety procedures and supervision in travelling carnival operations across British Columbia.
