Britany Fernandez: Girl, 13, plunges to death after slipping from pendulum swing at carnival
Warning: This article contains disturbing footage that could be traumatic for some readers. Discretion is advised.
SANTA BARBARA, HONDURAS: A girl died after clinging to a spinning fairground ride after a safety lock was believed to have broken at a carnival in Santa Barbara. 13-year-old Britany Fernandez was flung into a metal bar when she slipped from her seat as horrified family members watched.
A snippet from the incident has gone viral online where the ride's lock which was holding the teen to her seat appeared to have snapped. Britany was seen clinging to the ride while the wheel spun around at high speed.
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The youngster's body then slammed into the metal platform below and Britany's head hit a railing. Locals rushed to help the child but she suffered a fatal blow to the head and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Britany is believed to have hit the iron railing bar due to which she was unable to survive. Hundreds of Britany's school friends held a memorial service before her funeral on Tuesday, August 16. As per The Sun, Britany's classmates described her as “full of life, cheerful and intelligent”.
Estefany Pineda, a friend said, "Britany was always calm, she had a very nice manner. She was always kind. This is so sad that it happened because she had so many dreams in life.”
The headmaster at the Juan Lindo Institute, Wilmer Reyes, where Britany studied offered his condolences. “Britany was a charismatic young girl, very humble. In the military marching band, she played the snare drum," he said, adding that, “we are really dismayed about what happened because she was very well loved at the school, which is shown by the more than 300 pupils who have accompanied her family in their devastating loss."
Autoridades investigan las circunstancias de la muerte e la menor Britany Fernández Orellana, de 13 años de edad.https://t.co/KnoRBiMB0e
— Noticias Honduras (@LaNoticiaH) August 17, 2022
The headmaster called for strict action to be taken against the fairground operators and asked for better safety measures to ensure such incidents are never repeated. Reyes said, "we ask that these kinds of fairground rides have greater security measures in order to prevent tragedies like this from happening again."
According to the local media, the fairground has been reportedly shut since the incident occurred on August 14. The authorities have launched an investigation but no arrests have been made so far. The case is being handled by the Police Directorate of Investigations to collect evidence and determine whether criminal action is required. Jesus Pineda from Santa Barbara Police said, “from the initial investigations, it was determined that Britany's death was accidental. The minor hit a platform on the ride, which instantly caused her death.”
Meanwhile, the owners of the fairground ride, while speaking to a local TV blamed the girl's parents. They said, “the little girl went up unaccompanied by her parents and she fainted. It is not our fault, we have operating permits."