Mega drop operator fined $50k after Holly Brown’s horror fall

The operator of a “mega drop” ride a 12-year-old girl fell from when her harness released mid-ride at the Kilcoy Show has been fined $50000.

Nathan Allan Hawkins outside the Ipswich courthouse. Picture: Grace Koo

The operator of an amusement ride at the Kilcoy Show which caused a 12-year-old girl to fall from a height has been fined $50000.

Upper Caboolture man Nathan Allan Hawkins was charged with one count of failure to comply with health and safety duty that exposes a person to risk of death, serious injury or illness.

The mega drop owner faced the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that Holly Brown, 12, and her friend Ava were on the 40m ride on May 13 last year, but her harness released and opened as they ascended.

Holly heard someone yelling for her to jump with a volunteer attempting to catch her, so she jumped from a height.

The two fell back, and Holly ultimately sustained a fractured ankle, while another ride operator rushed to the ticket booth where a human interface (HMI) controller was located to pause the ride.

Holly Brown and her then 29-week pregnant mother Katie Sanzo. Picture: 9News

Work Health and Safety Prosecutor Sarah Lio-Willie said the defendant, despite having more than 25 years in the industry, was unaware that the harnesses could be discharged when the ride was active until the incident.

“From the size of the mega drop, what a frightening experience it must have been for the two children on the ride at the time,” she said.

Defence lawyer Sarah Cartledge said a defect in the setup of the remote control operation triggered the harness release.

“Prior to this incident, it was actually not known that that was possible, and in fact, Mr Hawkins had been advised that there was no way that the harnesses were released once the ride was in operation,” she said.

“It took some time for the parties to recreate the incident in order to replicate what had happened, and so there was quite a bit of time spent trying to get to the bottom of how the defect occurred or how it came to be released.”

She also said the defendant suffered income loss as the ride had not been operational since then.

Acting magistrate Robert Turra said the operator could have stopped the ride instantly by using his remote control rather than running back to the ticket booth.

“The defendant submits that substantial work would have been required to remove or mitigate the risk, and cites the subsequent expense, work and expert modification on the ride to address the issue and improve safety,” he said.

“However, notwithstanding the remedial work and improvements are considered, the original risks were increased by factors which could have been addressed without significant trouble or expense.

“The operator error could have been addressed by the defendant having a thorough understanding of the operational capacity of the HMI and remote control.”

Mr Turra ordered the defendant to pay a $50000 fine, a $1500 professional cost and a $101 file fee.

No conviction was recorded.

Mr Hawkins did not make any comment when he was leaving the courthouse.

Originally published as Mega drop operator fined $50k after Holly Brown’s horror fall