A child was taken to hospital with severe headaches after a park's play equipment broke and "whacked her on the head".

The incident happened in King George Recreation Ground in Bushey on Sunday, November 20.

Sydney Edwards was out with his family, including his 11-year-old granddaughter, when the youngster went flying off the park’s version of a zip line.

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He said: “My granddaughter was running to jump on the seat of the slider.

“As she got to the end of the line the bolts came out. She went flying off because it collapsed.  

“Then the whole thing collapsed and then the wire whacked her on the head.

“Luckily it wasn’t the heavy silver bit.”

Watford Observer: Me Edwards said it was lucky the silver bit did not hit his granddaughter. Me Edwards said it was lucky the silver bit did not hit his granddaughter. (Image: Sydney Edwards)

Mr Edwards said his granddaughter was left “shaken, crying badly” and “really upset”.

He added: “She hit her head and fell flat on the ground. Quite a few people who were there came over.”

Mr Edwards, who has lived in Bushey for 25 years, said it was “horrific”.

“We have been going to the park for years and you expect it to be safe,” he added.

While his granddaughter did not have any bruising, he said she was red in the face and flushed.

Watford Observer: The apparatus now only has one wire attached to the bar.The apparatus now only has one wire attached to the bar. (Image: Sydney Edwards)

“My son took her to hospital on the Sunday and the nurse checked her over. She was allowed to go home.

“But on Monday morning she woke with a terrible headache and my son took her to hospital again.

“Luckily, she didn’t have concussion, and they said it was quite normal with this type of injury and she is OK now.”

Watford Observer: As she got to the end of the line the bolts came out. She went flying because it collapsed.As she got to the end of the line the bolts came out. She went flying because it collapsed. (Image: Sydney Edwards)

A spokesperson for Hertsmere Council, which runs the park, said: "We were sorry to hear of the accident and hope Mr Edward's granddaughter is OK.

“The incident was reported to us and made safe the same day.

“We are investigating this incident to determine a cause of the equipment failure.

“The equipment has been temporarily made safe pending a permanent repair."

When asked how often the equipment is checked, they replied: “Parks are inspected and the equipment regularly checked.”

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