A woman who was left paralysed after a tragic fairground accident has secured compensation of £35,000 from the company responsible testing the equipment. She is also pursuing further claims to compensate her for her injuries.

Jessica Oseland, 28, was on a ride called the ‘Orbiter’ at the Moxley Park Fairground near Birmingham when the accident happened. Shortly after the ride started, the pod in which she and a friend were sitting became detached from the central rotating pole and was sent flying through the air.

Ms Oseland was so badly injured in the accident that she had to spend months in a specialist spinal unit. She is now tetraplegic and lives in a home specially adapted for her requirements.

When the 27-year-old ride was examined after the accident, it was found that the pod in which the women were riding had not been properly welded to the central pole and 13 of the remaining 18 welds also had cracks in them. If the accident had happened when the ride had reached its full speed, it is likely that the women would have been killed.

The owner of the fairground and the company responsible for carrying out safety inspections on the ride have both been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for breaches of health and safety regulations. In addition, Ms Oseland is pursuing civil claims for up to £5 million in compensation.