Eugene Mahauariki’s favorite carnival ride was the Cha Cha.
At 132cm, the 6-year-old was tall for his age and able to ride without an adult, but there was a rule that he couldn’t ride unless he was with his older siblings.
For the first time, he was placed in the outer seat, intended for adults and older children.
His younger friend, who should have been riding with an adult, was sitting next to him.
The ride began and the pair slid into each other as it spun.
Some witnesses say it was going faster than usual, others say it was regular speed.
But everyone saw a little boy outside the Cha Cha car, held tight and looking scared. Then he fell.
Eugene hit his head partway through the trip before landing on the ground below her.
His parents Tammy White and Stacey Mahauariki, who both worked for ride operator Wittingslow Amusements, heard the commotion and rushed to help.
Eugene was taken to the hospital, but could not be saved. He died after life support was turned off on April 21, 2017.
“Eugene was a small child who enjoyed a trip to a fairground on the Easter long weekend like hundreds of other children,” counsel assisting Rachel Ellyard said at an inquest into his death on Monday.
“The Cha Cha is an example of many rides that are fun because they are a little bit dangerous, or at least feel dangerous.”
But parents only let their child ride because even though they feel like they’re on the edge of danger, they’re actually safe, she said.
Parents and drivers expect the machine to be in good condition, the ride to be safe and its operators to be well trained.
These are all elements of the accident that claimed Eugene’s life, which will be examined by Coroner Sarah Gebert over the next two weeks.
“Losing a child so young, and especially under the circumstances, is obviously devastating for his family, as well as for our community as a whole,” she said.
“We are collectively reeling from what has happened and we are all looking for answers as to why.”
Eugene’s father Stacey Mahauariki told the inquest he let his son travel alone, but only when he was leading the carnival ride.
He was strict about enforcing safety rules including height limits because small children would slide around, he said.
Properly fitted seat belts could have prevented the tragedy, he said.
Wittingslow Amusements was accused by WorkSafe of failing to ensure that people other than employees were not exposed to health or safety risks, on the basis that the restraint system was insufficient.
Those charges were dropped in early 2020.
Wittingslow Amusements owner Michael Wittingslow and engineer Hamish Munro, who inspected the ride five months before Eugene’s death, have both refused to give evidence even after the coroner offered them protection against self-incrimination.
