Next year will mark 50 years since the Big Dipper, an iconic ride at Battersea Park’s former funfair, malfunctioned and caused a fatal accident.
The wooden rollercoaster opened in 1951, as part of the Festival of Britain, and was the main attraction of the Battersea amusement park.
Battersea Park's funfair was set up in the Pleasure Gardens in 1951
However, the coaster was ill-fated. Two years after it was hit by fire a terrible tragedy occurred, which resulted in the deaths of five children and the injuries of thirteen others.
On 30 May 1972, a cable broke, causing the emergency brake to fail and the cart to roll backwards.
Carolyn Adamczyk, a passenger on the ride during the accident, told the Independent in 2015 that:
"As soon as we started shooting backwards everything went into slow motion...
“I turned around and saw the brake man desperately trying to put the brake on but it wasn’t working. Most of the carriages didn’t go around the bend, one detached and went off the side through a wooden hoarding. People were groaning and hanging over the edge. It was awful."
The Big Dipper was subsequently dismantled and the funfair closed in 1974.
Despite several manslaughter chargers, no one was prosecuted with the death of the children.
The accident remains largely forgotten.
Do you remember the 1972 Battersea Park Funfair tragedy? Let us know by emailing francesca.adkins@newsquest.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here