Fairground horror as girl, 11, is left hanging from Ferris wheel when seat flips up, before finally losing her grip in front of screaming crowd and smashing through stall

Fairground horror as girl, 11, is left hanging from Ferris wheel when seat flips up, before finally losing her grip in front of screaming crowd and smashing through stall

An 11-year-old girl was left hanging from a Ferris wheel after a malfunction caused her to slip from her seat.

The terror unfolded when a safety lock on the seat she and her friend were on unlatched while the ride, at a fairground in Rio Preto da Eva, Brazil, was going around.

The suspected fault caused the seat to flip, prompting the girl and her 13-year-old pal to tumble out.

The older girl plummeted more than 20ft to the ground, while the younger child managed to grab on to the seat.

Footage shows how she was left dangling high above the ground as people below looked on in horror.

As the ride creaks along, she eventually loses her grip and drops to the ground as high-pitched shrieks are heard.

She can be seen hitting a structure apparently made from metal during her descent on the night of October 31. 

The other girl's dad, Raimundo Claudinei, was on another seat with his younger daughter when the malfunction happened.

He told local media: 'We had taken about five turns on the wheel, and I realised something was wrong.

'That's when I looked and saw my daughter already hanging upside down.

And when I looked again, she was already hanging and fell. As I was holding my seven-year-old daughter, I didn't know what I could do.'

After the girls' plunges, paramedics gave the pair first aid at the scene. 

Both were then taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a larger facility in Manaus about 35 miles away.

The older girl was still in hospital with injuries to her pelvic area.

Her family said she was still awaiting tests.

The younger girl has already been discharged.

Raimundo recalled how the Ferris wheel felt extremely unsafe, with only a piece of rope separating riders from a terrifying drop.

The amusement park has since been closed by the authorities and the incident has been reported to the police.

Raimundo said he plans to sue the venue when his daughter is recovered.

He told local media: 'I'll wait for her to come home and then take appropriate action along with the competent authorities.'

The younger girl's family also plans to take legal action, local media report.

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