This is the horrifying moment a fairground ride fails and sends cars flying, leaving six people critically injured.
Video footage taken at the travelling fun fair in La Aurora, Daule Canton, Ecuador, on the night of 27 October showed a spinning and swinging ride, commonly known as a swing carousel, packed out as it is in use.
Loud cheery music can be heard blaring as thrillseekers sit on the ride as it pendulates back and forth.
But as it gets to the nadir of its swing, two of the cars holding dozens of riders decoupled, slamming them into the ride’s infrastructure and sending dozens of horrified onlooker running in panic.
Aftermath footage showed the ride in tatters, with its metal arms shorn off at jutting angles as worried revellers cried out to make sure their loved ones weren’t hurt.
Another video showed onlookers crowding around one of the crashed cars on the ground, shining their phone’s torches to get a better look as paramedics try to free them.
A total of ten people were injured, and taken to hospital.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Armas said one of the mechanical arms unexpectedly came loose, causing the cars to detach.
He added that officers on the scene closed down the travelling fair and cordoned off the faulty ride.
The equipment will be kept safe on site until investigations are carried out, according to reports.
Fire Department chief Moisés Cano said six of the 10 victims suffered fractures and head trauma and have been hospitalised in intensive care.
The organisers have vowed to cover their medical bills.
Risk Management official Stalin Quiñónez confirmed that the attraction had all the required permits and was in full working order prior to the collapse.
Quiñónez said: ‘Unfortunately this mishap occurred, a very unfortunate event, but we do not know what caused it yet.
‘The investigations will be able to determine what happened.
‘The organisers have assured us they will cover all the medical expenses.’
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the collapse.
