Girl’s scalp torn off after hair gets caught on carnival ride
Warning: Story contains graphic images.
What was meant to be a fun day at an amusement park turned into a very tragic affair for a family in Omaha, United States. Elizabeth Gilreath is reportedly recovering from surgery after her hair got caught on a carnival ride, leaving her with a torn scalp.
The horrific incident happened on Saturday at the Cinco de Mayo Festival, according WOWT. Elizabeth’s father, Timothy Gilreath, told reporters that his daughter was pulled back and forth for over five minutes before she was assisted.
One of Elizabeth’s friends who was also on the ride said she felt helpless and yelled for someone to stop the ride, the publication reported. There's nothing we could do and so I stood up and I was like yelling, I was like, 'Stop the ride! Stop the freaking ride!" Elizabeth’s friend, Aushanay Allen, told reporters.
According to reports, there is video footage showing the operator of the ride running away instead of stopping the machine. Help only reportedly came when one of the parents, Jolene Cisneros, intervened by stopping the machine.
"It was still spinning. I had to stop it with my hands and turn it to the point where it was to the platform. I didn't know it wasn't my child, I just knew there's a child and she needed help," Cisneros told WOWT. When the machine was stopped, people reportedly used t-shirts and other items of clothing to stop Elizabeth’s bleeding.
She was then rushed to a nearby hospital and her mother, Virginia Cooksey, shared a photo of her in hospital and asked for prayers. Alongside the photo, she wrote: “Please pray for my baby girl. Lord please beside her and give her a full recovery.
“No mother should have to go [through] what I’m going [through]. I want the man who is responsible for being so stupid and neglecting my daughter to be [punished] for this crime and I want everyone who was involved in saving my daughter’s life to know how thankful her family and I are."
The shocking news is that the carnival is reportedly still up and running.
When asked for comment, Thomas D. Thomas Shows, the company that furnishes the rides, told reporters that an investigation was underway.
“At this time, an investigation is underway. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Thomas D. Thomas Shows are with the young girl and her family during this extremely difficult time,” the company reportedly said.
See images below which were posted by Cooksey.
Warning: Graphic images.