A BBC Panorama investigation revealed over 3,000 injuries at funfairs and amusement parks in England, Scotland, and Wales between April 2014 and March 2024, raising serious concerns about industry safety and regulation of ride inspections. The investigation highlights issues with inspector David Geary and his company DMG Technical, linked to multiple accidents and convictions, despite remaining on an approved list until recently.
Funfair accident toll raises questions about industry safety
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A BBC Panorama investigation revealed over 3,000 injuries at funfairs and amusement parks in England, Scotland, and Wales between April 2014 and March 2024, raising serious concerns about industry safety and regulation of ride inspections. The investigation highlights issues with inspector David Geary and his company DMG Technical, linked to multiple accidents and convictions, despite remaining on an approved list until recently.
Trending- 1 2014: Adelene Leong died after being thrown from Airmaxx 360 in Australia.
- 2 April 2014 - March 2024: 3,188 injuries reported at funfairs in England, Scotland, Wales.
- 3 2017: Airmaxx 360 sold to UK owner. David Geary received criminal conviction for failing to identify risks (unrelated rollercoaster accident).
- 4 October 2019: Jade Harrison thrown from Airmaxx 360 at Hull Fair, suffering serious injuries.
- 5 2023: HSE confirmed fatality on Airmaxx 360 in Australia to Jade Harrison.
- 6 May 2024: David Geary received suspended prison sentence for design review failure.
- 7 March 2025: David Geary and DMG Technical suspended from Adips-approved list.
- 8 May 2025: Adips disciplinary hearing decided Mr. Geary should remain suspended.
- 9 Current: HSE reviewing industry safety guidance.
- Thousands of injuries at funfairs
- Serious injuries for Jade Harrison
- Fatality for Adelene Leong
- Criminal convictions and fines for David Geary
- Suspension of David Geary and DMG Technical from Adips
- Calls for major overhaul of safety regulations
- HSE reviewing industry safety guidance
What: A BBC Panorama investigation uncovered over 3,000 injuries at funfairs and amusement parks in England, Scotland, and Wales over the last decade, raising questions about industry safety and the regulation of ride inspections. Specifically, concerns were highlighted regarding inspector David Geary and his company DMG Technical, who were linked to multiple accidents and convictions but remained on an approved list until March 2025.
When: Investigation covers April 2014 to March 2024 for injuries. Jade Harrison's accident was October 2019. Adelene Leong's death was 2014. David Geary's convictions in 2017 and May 2024. Suspension in March 2025. Adips disciplinary hearing in May 2025. Article published June 16, 2025.
Where: England, Scotland, Wales (United Kingdom), Hull Fair (UK), Australia (for Adelene Leong's death).
Why: Concerns about the regulation of funfair ride inspections, particularly regarding the competence and diligence of some ride examiners, and the slow response of regulatory bodies like HSE and Adips to address issues with inspectors like David Geary.
How: A BBC Panorama investigation used Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to gather data on injuries and documents related to specific accidents and inspector conduct. Interviews with victims and industry insiders were also conducted.