Four individuals, including two children, sustained injuries after a fairground ride at an annual event in Seville, Spain, plummeted to the ground when a cable broke. The incident occurred on the Steel Max slingshot ride, located in an area known as 'Calle del Infierno,' or 'Street of Hell.' Witnesses screamed and shouted 'My God' as the capsule hit a side post at high speed before becoming suspended several feet in the air.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, and firefighters cordoned off the attraction. A spokesman for the emergency response coordination center confirmed that four people were slightly injured and treated on-site, with two of them, the children from the capsule, later taken to a medical center. The area was secured with the help of Civil Protection workers, while local police inspected documentation and the National Police launched an investigation.
The Ride and Its Mechanics
Steel Max is an extreme amusement ride that propels a two-person capsule over 300 feet into the air at speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h) using a spring-propulsion system or elastic cables. Riders experience intense acceleration, forces up to 5Gs, temporary weightlessness, and a dramatic vertical ascent followed by bouncing. The cause of the cable snap remains under investigation.
Seville Feria Festival
The Seville Feria is a week-long spring festival featuring a massive fairground with over 1,000 casetas, or tents, where locals drink and dance. Originating in 1847 as an agricultural and livestock fair, the event also includes bullfights, which have already seen two matadors injured. One notable incident involved leading bullfighter Jose Antonio Morante Camacho, who was gored in the rectum by a 1,128-pound bull named Clandestino. He underwent hours of surgery and reported being in significant pain.
The other two casualties from the ride accident have not been identified. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the cable failure.
