Latest news with #LambethCountryShow
Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I cheated death when a fairground ride cracked my skull and made me repeat same phrase'
Netflix's new documentary Critical: Between Life and Death looks at the aftermath of a horrific fairground incident at Lambeth Country Show - injuring four people Netflix's latest fly-on-the-wall documentary is set to be a harrowing watch for some, with Critical: Between Life and Death following critical care units across London that are treating those with serious injuries. The first episode takes viewers behind-the-scenes as four patients are rushed to hospital after a ride on a fairground attraction turned into a nightmare on Saturday 8 June last year. The Lambeth Country Show in London's Brockwell Park ended in disaster last June when a fairground ride failed and flung those on it into the air. For Alison and her boyfriend Nick, the injuries proved to be life-threatening. "When I came around, I had a memory of going on the ride with Nick and I was asking, 'Where's Nick?' I think people were quite diplomatic with me about how serious Nick's injuries were," Alison tells the documentary. "Just because it was touch and go for him." Speaking about witnessing Alison and Nick on the ride, Alison's sister Claire says in the episode: "I saw heads and bodies crash into the railings, like crash test dummies. I thought, 'Oh my God, those are my sister's shoes.' "I immediately jumped up onto the ride and my sisters and Nick were still in their seats. The whole of the side of Nick's face was basically open. Just this big hole. It looked so so serious. I was really concerned he wasn't going to make it.' After being rushed to King's College Hospital, Alison began to worry doctors when she was not following commands. During a brain scan, the asset management firm director came around and kept repeating the same phrase: "I'm so internat. I'm so internat." Dr. Lalarukh Asim, Emergency Medicine Consultant, tells the documentary: "Alison has come round but she's still quite confused and not making sense. If someone's incoherent or there's signs of significant brain injury, the main thing you'd be worried about is a bleed on the brain." A scan later showed that Alison had suffered a skull fracture, however she also required an urgent chest drain to avoid her from going into cardiac arrest after rib fractures had ruptured her lung. "When I went into see her, I took a deep breath," Claire says. "There were lots of tubes, lots of beeping. She wasn't making any sense. It was so traumatic for me. Bones you can fix, but the head injuries, I was worried about. How bad is that going to be for both Nick and Alison?" Meanwhile, Nick - who was rushed to St. George's Hospital - had "fractured everything in his face" and "shattered his kidney", according to Dr. Ahmed Mahdi. Thankfully, on the Monday after the incident, Alison was able to ring her sister from the hospital. "It was an incredible sense of relief that she was making sense again because she really didn't for those two days," Claire says. Alison adds, "Everybody tells me that when I started to come around, I was talking a load of rubbish and generally, I'm sort of quite good with memory and words. "Initially, I was told that I would probably be in hospital for five or six weeks. I was stuck in a bed, and didn't even know if I could walk. When can I get out of here? In reality, I managed to get better a lot quicker. So I came out of hospital after two and a half weeks." Nick also managed to recover - however, it took him several months. "It's the last thing you think is going to happen when you go to a country fair, that you'll be in hospital for a few months," Nick says. "It brings it home to you, how lucky we are to have the NHS and critical care when something goes wrong. The skill involved in the surgeon who repaired my face, which to me is absolutely astounding." Alison adds, "It's been challenging, but we cheated death, so we look forward." Critical: Between Life and Death is available to stream on Netflix now.
Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Critical: Between Life and Death reveals extent of Lambeth fairground crash
Critical: Between Life and Death follows the trauma teams at various London hospitals as they tend to injured patients - including those involved in the Lambeth Country Fair crash Netflix' s latest docuseries Critical: Between Life and Death arrives on the streamer tonight, taking viewers behind the scenes at Royal London Hospital as NHS trauma teams attempt to save patients with life-threatening injuries. The hard-working unit is thrown into a dire situation from the first few minutes, with several patients fighting for their lives after being injured at a fairground in Brockwell Park. Four people were left with serious injuries in June last year when a fairground ride at the Lambeth Country Show malfunctioned. "I saw heads and bodies crash into the railings, like crash test dummies," Claire Collins - who witnessed her sister Alison and Alison's boyfriend Nick sustain injuries from the incident - tells the Netflix documentary. "I immediately jumped up onto the ride, and my sister and Nick were still in their seats. The whole of the side of Nick's face was basically open. Just this big hole. It looked so, so serious. I was really concerned he wasn't going to make it." With Critical: Between Life and Death looking into the aftermath of the horrific incident, here's everything you need to know about what happened at the Lambeth Country Show. What happened at the Lambeth Country Show fairground? The Lambeth Country Show hit the headlines last year, when a fairground ride failed and people were thrown through the air. Four people were rushed to hospital as a result of the incident, with emergency services being alerted at 6:20pm on Saturday 8 June 2024. One eyewitness told the MailOnline at the time: "People were running towards us and crying and screaming ... Saw a lady with blood streaming down her face. She had paramedics carrying her off the ride." While another said: "I am told a ride collapsed and all hell broke loose. It was horrific. The screams were terrible. Four people flew off and went through the air. It was like a horror movie." A spokesperson for Lambeth Council said at the time that a "thorough" investigation was being carried out into the cause of the malfunction. "The situation is being closely monitored. The area around the ride is secure and the funfair has been closed ... Additional safety inspections are being carried out on all rides and attractions at the show," a spokesperson said. Those who attended the fair soon took to social media to warn others, with one writing on X: "They need to shut the whole thing down. Do not take your kids, do not go on any of the rides. I am scarred for life. I really hope they are OK. My wife was physically sick. Saw the air ambulance coming over about 15 minutes after it happened." The Metropolitan Police later said in a statement: "Emergency services responded at around 6.20pm on Saturday to a fairground ride having failed at the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park. Four people have been taken to hospital. We await an assessment of their conditions. Nobody is trapped on the ride. "Enquiries are under way to establish the circumstances. Cordons are in place at the location. The Health & Safety Executive will be informed." Among those injured was Alison Collins, who was left fighting for her life in the hospital after suffering horrific injuries. Meanwhile, her boyfriend Nick was also admitted to the hospital after suffering injuries to his face and head. Silvana, 11, was also admitted to the hospital with injuries to her legs, pelvis and lower back, while her grandfather, Sebastiano, sustained a broken nose. During the incident, Sebastiano threw himself between Silvana and a flying speaker, which smashed into his face. 'I was given a bag with my dad's things, like his ring,' Sebastiano's daughter Marcia told The Mirror. "It was covered in blood." Just weeks after the incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation into the ride failure. They said that the ride was being "forensically examined by specialists". HSE inspector Stacey Gamwell said in July last year: "We will continue to thoroughly investigate what happened and determine whether there were any breaches of health and safety law at the time of this incident. "Once we have finished our investigation, a decision will then be made on whether formal enforcement is required in line with our enforcement policy. We remain in contact with those affected by the ride's malfunction and will keep them updated throughout our investigation." What happened to the victims? While Critical: Between Life and Death viewers will see that Alison's skull fracture and chest injuries were a cause of concern, both she and her boyfriend Nick made a full recovery. Speaking in the documentary, Alison said: "Everybody tells me that when I started to come around, I was sort of talking a load of rubbish and generally, I'm sort of quite good with memory and words. "Initially, I was told that I would probably be in hospital for five or six weeks. I was stuck in a bed, and didn't even know if I could walk. When can I get out of here? In reality, I managed to get better a lot quicker. So I came out of hospital, I think, after two and a half weeks." Nick's recovery took slightly longer. "It's the last thing you think is going to happen when you go to a country fair, that you'll be in hospital for a few months. It brings it home to you, how lucky we are to have the NHS and critical care when something goes wrong. The skill involved in the surgeon who repaired my face - which to me is absolutely astounding." Alison added: "It's been challenging but we cheated death so we look forward." Sebastiano suffered multiple fractures to his nose but was discharged from hospital, while Silvana's injuries were also not life-threatening. "Well, end of the day, I feel lucky," he told the documentary. "Very lucky." Sebastiano's daughter Marcia said that her family worked with the fun fair and it has now left their business in limbo. 'In a way, we're out of work but we go to different locations.' And her family have made a huge decision: 'My brother said, 'I'm never taking the kids to a fun fair ride again.'
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I'll never go to a fairground again after little girl's horror injuries'
Speaking out in a new Netflix docu-series, Marcia looked back on the fairground ride malfunction that left her 11-year-old niece and father, 57, with serious injuries. Disaster struck last year when Marcia's niece and father were rushed to hospital after a malfunction on a fairground ride - now, she talks about her experience in a gripping Netflix docu-series. When a family outing turns to horror, every second counts. Critical: Between Life and Death lifts the curtain on London's Major Trauma System in six powerful episodes. With unprecedented access to paramedics, A&E teams and trauma surgeons, the cameras capture everything. 'A nice lady came into the waiting room and told me about the cameras,' says Marcia. 'They were there before we were.' Marcia's niece Silvana was 11 years old when she went to the Lambeth Country Show with her grandfather Sebastiano. He'd even taken the day off from the family's ice cream van. But joy turned to disaster when a malfunction on a fairground ride sent debris and people flying, leaving four casualties in hospital with serious injuries. Sebastiano threw himself between Silvana and a speaker. It smashed into his face while Silvana was left with several serious injuries. In the hospital, Marcia acted as an anchor for the rest of her family. 'I'm the rational person,' she says, 'But there were moments that made me fearful. My brother said, 'do you want a coffee?' But I was so wired. I thought, 'If my dad dies, I'm going to be the man of the house.'' For Marcia, the moment she was handed her father's blood-stained belongings remains etched in her memory. 'I was given a bag with my dad's things, like his ring,' Marcia says, 'It was covered in blood.' Marcia also had to deal with police, doctors and even solicitors. 'Everyone was calling me,' she remembers. 'I've been writing government letters since I was 9 because my parents don't really speak English.' The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation soon after the incident. Now, Marcia hopes the series sparks serious conversations. 'There are many things that shouldn't be happening and everyone turns a blind eye. Until it's them,' she says. 'It's not the first time something like this happened. This story isn't original.' Since the incident, the family business is left in limbo. 'We worked with the Fun Fair,' Marcia adds, 'In a way, we're out of work but we go to different locations.' And her family have made a huge decision: 'My brother said, 'I'm never taking the kids to a fun fair ride again.' More than a gripping documentary revealing the NHS ' tireless efforts to keep Brits safe and healthy, Critical: Between Life and Death is a raw and vital reminder of just how fragile life can be. A wake-up call that tragedy can strike anywhere - even on the most ordinary day.
New Statesman
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
This England: From the carvery
The annual Lambeth Country Show featured some star names this year – in the form of vegetables. The free festival, taking place in south London's Brockwell Park, included a carved vegetables competition, with sculptures portraying figures such as Dolly Parton and the Pope. There were some excellent puns accompanying the artwork, including 'Mo Salad' and a papal 'Cornclave'. BBC News (Amanda Welles) Turtley smitten A lovelorn tortoise which escaped to find a mate 11 months ago has been found just a mile away: an average speed of just 0.00012mph. Ginger dug under a garden fence before making a slow getaway across countryside fields looking for love following the death of her long-time companion, Fred. She was finally found behind a pub by a horse rider in Stanton, Gloucestershire. Owner Sarah-Jane Muirie, 51, is celebrating the return of Ginger, whom Muirie has owned since she was ten. Cotswold Journal (Daragh Brady) Neighbourhood swatch Social media influencers who flock to a vibrantly coloured neighbourhood for selfies have annoyed residents so much that some have resorted to painting their homes black to thwart them. Owners of three neighbouring homes in Notting Hill, west London – where properties often sell for more than £2m – have used the tactic to put off posing visitors. And a residents' group is urging more to follow suit to 'restore peace and privacy to our community'. David Lamming (Metro) [See also: Gen-Z is afraid of porn, and Sabrina Carpenter] Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
Time Out
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
All of the best vegetable sculptures from the Lambeth Country Show 2025
When it comes to what you can do with vegetables, the possibilities are endless. They can be boiled, steamed, sautéed, roasted, and even turned into fabulous sculptures. Every year, the Lambeth Country Show hosts a hilarious, and frankly iconic, vegetable sculpture competition, where veg-loving artists create weird and wonderful scenes out of only the finest produce. In 2025 the competition saw Donald Trump, Chappell Roan and Mark Rylance recreated in veggie form. But who squashed the competition? And whose leaves were a major flop? Here are our favourite veggie sculptures from this year's country show. WINNER: 'Not In My Broc-Yard' It was the topic of the year: the battle for Brockwell Park. This artwork depicting a very angry broccolli alongside a grimacing 'Mark Pak-Choi-Lance' poked fun at the campaigners trying to stop festivals in the park, which help fund the free to attend Lambeth Country show. 'Not In My Broc-Yard' was one of three entries on this topic, but this feisty broccoli winning took the title with 704 likes on Instagram. Mark Rylunch and his NIMBY campeaners This entry speaks for itself. Chap-peel Roan Pop superstar Chappell Roan got a veggie makeover complete with ginger (carrot) hair. Cornclave (1 and 2) The conclave appeared in two works, as an army of baby corn elected the new pope. Trump goes pukelear Trump, tarriffs, and a stream of veggie vomit. We love the chaos of this one. Twin Leaks RIP David Lynch, you would have loved being recreated as a squash at the Lambeth Country Show. Enjoyed these? Check out all the entries on the Lambeth Country Show Instagram.
