Amusement park operator is charged over the death of a boy, six, who was thrown from the Cha-Cha ride at an Easter carnival

  • Eugene Mahauariki died in hospital after falling off a ride at Rye Carnival in 2017
  • The six-year-old was airlifted to hospital in critical condition where he later died 
  • Wittingslow Carnivals Pty Ltd were charged by WorkSafe Victoria on Friday
  • His family describe him as 'a happy kind and caring boy who loved to dance'  

By Sahar Mourad For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:22 EST, 30 November 2018 | Updated: 00:24 EST, 30 November 2018

An amusement park operator has been charged over the death of a boy who was thrown from the Cha-Cha ride at an Easter carnival.

Eugene Mahauariki, fell out of his seat on the Cha-Cha ride at the Rye Easter Carnival on April 17, last year, and sustained serious head and foot injuries.

The six-year-old was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital in a critical condition after his fall on Easter Monday in 2017. He died later that day in hospital.

Eugene Mahauariki, fell out of his seat on the Cha-Cha ride at the Rye Easter Carnival on April 17 last year and sustained serious head and foot injuries

Eugene Mahauariki, fell out of his seat on the Cha-Cha ride at the Rye Easter Carnival on April 17 last year and sustained serious head and foot injuries

The six-year-old boy was flung out of his seat on The Cha Cha ride (pictured) at the Rye Carnival on Monday, leaving him in a critical condition. He died in hospital.

The six-year-old boy was flung out of his seat on The Cha Cha ride (pictured) at the Rye Carnival on Monday, leaving him in a critical condition. He died in hospital.

Wittingslow Carnivals Pty Ltd were charged by WorkSafe Victoria on Friday at Dromana Magistrates Court for breaching workplace laws after exposing people to health and safety risks.

'Wittingslow Carnivals Pty Ltd is charged with a breach of section 23 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that persons other than its employees were not exposed to risks to their health and safety,' they said. 

At the time of Eugene's death, his grieving parents, father Stacey and mother Tammy, described him as a 'happy kind and caring boy' who 'loved nothing more than to dance'.

'While our hearts are broken, it is important to us that Eugene is remembered as we knew and loved him,' they said in a statement.

'Eugene was loved by so many people and he brought us, his brother and four sisters, extended family, friends and community so much joy and happiness in his short life.

'He was an energetic boy and he loved nothing more than playing with his siblings and his beloved two dogs.

'We could not have been more proud of him and cannot imagine our world without him.' 

'We could not have been more proud of him and cannot imagine our world without him'

'We could not have been more proud of him and cannot imagine our world without him'

Wittingslow Carnivals Pty Ltd were charged by WorkSafe Victoria at Dromana Magistrates Court for breaching workplace laws after exposing people to health and safety risks

Wittingslow Carnivals Pty Ltd were charged by WorkSafe Victoria at Dromana Magistrates Court for breaching workplace laws after exposing people to health and safety risks

Paramedics were called to the scene at about 5.15pm to assess a boy in a 'serious' condition who had fallen for head injuries, a spokesperson for Ambulance Victoria told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Nine News had reported that Eugene had been hanging on to the side of one of the gondolas on the ride before he fell, though witnesses say he was thrown from his seat.

The ride seats 44 people, and is made up of small carriages which are lifted off the ground and spun around.

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Amusement park operator charged over the death of a boy, six, who was thrown ride at Easter carnival

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