Blackout causes Royal Show crowd chaos
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:16 am
A BLACKOUT plunged the Royal Adelaide Show into darkness for almost half an hour, leaving frightened showgoers trapped on rides and causing chaos on the Show's opening night.
The power supply failed across the showground at 7.45pm, with only the Jubilee and Goyder pavilions, on Goodwood Rd, remaining lit.
State Emergency Service crews had just begun evacuating main arena stands while ferris wheel operators were retrieving people from carriages when the power was restored at about 8.10pm.
Terry Nicholas, 15, of Ascot Park, said he was on the Space Roller ride when it stopped suddenly.
"I wasn't too worried but there were some girls and young kids who were crying and screaming," he said. "They slowly got us down. I was pretty high in the air."
Showgoers said sideshow alley was in total darkness with the exception of the ghost train, which has its own generator. It cornered the market on rides for the duration of the 25-minute blackout.
Show marketing manager Michelle Hocking said she could not comment on reports that people who left the showground because of the blackout were refused re-entry by security staff. She said refunds would be considered on a case-by-case basis, but they were "highly unlikely" because the blackout had lasted less than half an hour.
"It was very orderly. It was only a partial blackout," she said.
"Everyone was very calm and we had emergency services and show staff standing by."
She said the blackout was a "first" and that staff had got the night's schedule, including fireworks, back on track.
"Most people have stayed on and the program has continued on as scheduled," she said.
The showground's electricity supply had two incoming circuit breakers. "One of them tripped which is probably a good thing," Ms Hocking said.
"ETSA are looking into it and we won't know the cause until they do a report."
Sideshow alley ticket seller Terry Jones said patrons were "pretty calm".
"We got most of the people off before the lights went out," he said.
Deb Scory, of Whyalla, said people aboard the Speed ride were suspended high in the air from its extended arm.
After the lights and power failed, the ride completed two full rotations in the dark, prompting screams from those on board. Showgoer Debbie Greenfield said she had to leave early with her family. "We were told that people were stuck upside down on some of the rides," she said.
"We were in the main arena and we just thought we'd get out of here before there's a panic."
There had been no reports of injuries.
About 15 minutes behind schedule, the massed pipe band entered the main arena to thunderous cheers.
The audience could catch only glimpses of the band as it marched across the beams of a vehicle's headlights.
The fireworks display went ahead as scheduled.
SOURCE: News.com.au
The power supply failed across the showground at 7.45pm, with only the Jubilee and Goyder pavilions, on Goodwood Rd, remaining lit.
State Emergency Service crews had just begun evacuating main arena stands while ferris wheel operators were retrieving people from carriages when the power was restored at about 8.10pm.
Terry Nicholas, 15, of Ascot Park, said he was on the Space Roller ride when it stopped suddenly.
"I wasn't too worried but there were some girls and young kids who were crying and screaming," he said. "They slowly got us down. I was pretty high in the air."
Showgoers said sideshow alley was in total darkness with the exception of the ghost train, which has its own generator. It cornered the market on rides for the duration of the 25-minute blackout.
Show marketing manager Michelle Hocking said she could not comment on reports that people who left the showground because of the blackout were refused re-entry by security staff. She said refunds would be considered on a case-by-case basis, but they were "highly unlikely" because the blackout had lasted less than half an hour.
"It was very orderly. It was only a partial blackout," she said.
"Everyone was very calm and we had emergency services and show staff standing by."
She said the blackout was a "first" and that staff had got the night's schedule, including fireworks, back on track.
"Most people have stayed on and the program has continued on as scheduled," she said.
The showground's electricity supply had two incoming circuit breakers. "One of them tripped which is probably a good thing," Ms Hocking said.
"ETSA are looking into it and we won't know the cause until they do a report."
Sideshow alley ticket seller Terry Jones said patrons were "pretty calm".
"We got most of the people off before the lights went out," he said.
Deb Scory, of Whyalla, said people aboard the Speed ride were suspended high in the air from its extended arm.
After the lights and power failed, the ride completed two full rotations in the dark, prompting screams from those on board. Showgoer Debbie Greenfield said she had to leave early with her family. "We were told that people were stuck upside down on some of the rides," she said.
"We were in the main arena and we just thought we'd get out of here before there's a panic."
There had been no reports of injuries.
About 15 minutes behind schedule, the massed pipe band entered the main arena to thunderous cheers.
The audience could catch only glimpses of the band as it marched across the beams of a vehicle's headlights.
The fireworks display went ahead as scheduled.
SOURCE: News.com.au
. Good on Mick for writing to the paper.
