Dramatic video from a famed Easter fair has surfaced showing what seems to be the buckle of a lap seatbelt suddenly coming undone during a swing on a slingshot ride. The heart-stopping moment occurred at the high-octane 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show in Australia, with riders being hurled sky-high during the experience. Reacting to the concerning incident on Friday’s Today show, Shane McGrath, Head of Operations for the Easter Show, voiced his disappointment while ensuring public safety.
“I’m really disappointed by what I saw in that footage,” declared Mr McGrath. “But I want to assure everyone that at no point was the child in any danger.” He clarified that the malfunctioned ride is deemed as a Class Five apparatus, featuring triple independent safety locks for added passenger security. “The over-the-shoulder restraint was engaged, and the ride cannot operate without it,” he asserted.
Despite the primary safety measures, the third safeguard, a seatbelt, seemed to malfunction in the video. “Unfortunately, what we’re seeing is a failure in that third seatbelt,” explained Mr McGrath, reports the Mirror.
Following the episode, immediate contact was made with the youngster’s mother, and the case was swiftly referred to SafeWork NSW and the Show’s ride safety experts for urgent scrutiny.
“They’re satisfied with the steps we’ve taken,” he remarked. “We take amusement ride safety very seriously and exceed the legislative requirements in place.”
All attractions at the Sydney Royal Easter Show undergo rigorous checks by engineers before they are opened to the public, according to McGrath. He also highlighted that a dedicated carnival safety team is in place and collaboration with an international ride training company ensures top-notch safety standards for ride operators.
Despite a recent incident, the slingshot ride is set to remain operational throughout the weekend.
McGrath reassured: “It’s been running smoothly for the past four or five days,” adding, “The incident occurred last weekend, and we remain supremely confident in the ride’s safety. It’s been a mainstay at the Easter Show for decades.” SafeWork NSW confirmed their awareness of the incident, stating that no injuries were reported.
A spokesperson for SafeWork NSW told NewsWire: “SafeWork NSW is working with the Royal Agricultural Society and continuing to make inquiries,” and “SafeWork NSW is working closely with the Sydney Royal Easter Show event organisers to ensure the safety of more than 800,000 expected visitors, with inspectors and engineers conducting thorough inspections and enforcing strict safety compliance.”
They added: “This Easter, SafeWork NSW has issued 23 notices to protect families and workers by addressing safety risks to ensure all rides, stalls, and activities meet strict safety standards.”
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, organisers of the Easter show, assured that additional safety mechanisms are in place to safeguard riders. “We are aware of an incident involving a seat belt on the slingshot ride in the main carnival,” a spokesperson confirmed.
“The slingshot is equipped with multiple safety mechanisms to ensure rider safety, with the over-shoulder harness and lap belt being the primary safety restraints, the additional seat belt that clips into the ride acts as an additional redundancy. The show’s carnival safety consultant has inspected the ride, the seat belt has been repaired and all safety procedures have been reviewed and reinforced with the operator.”
