Creepy scenes at the Cranger fair: Injured in ride drama!

Creepy scenes at the Cranger fair: Injured in ride drama!

A shocking moment at the Cranger Kirmes in Herne, the largest folk festival in North Rhine-Westphalia: On Sunday evening, August 10, 2025, there was an accident with the crazy “Predator” ride. Parts of the ride came loose and fell onto the fairground, which called several ambulances onto the scene. A young woman was injured in the incident, but fortunately her situation was not life-threatening. She received immediate help from emergency services and was taken away for treatment. It was initially said that two people were affected, but it later emerged that another woman only suffered shock. The area around the ride was cordoned off as a precaution, but operations at the fair could continue as usual. Overall, the organizers drew a positive conclusion and were happy that there were no serious injuries.

The incident occurred just hours before the final fireworks display of the festival, which has attracted large crowds since the end of July. By Sunday evening, the fair had over four million guests who enjoyed the diverse attractions and offerings. Despite the incident, those responsible remained optimistic. Interestingly, this was not the first incident this year: a bird in a switchgear had previously stopped parts of the fair, luckily without anyone being injured. But such incidents raise questions about the safety of rides that are often considered big thrills.

Safety concerns with rides

In recent years, the popularity of fairground rides has continued, but with this comes safety concerns. As NRW Kompakt reports, many guests are of the opinion that rides are safe, although this is not always the case. The TÜV cannot check every single screw, which means that the responsibility ultimately remains with the operator. Children under 16 in particular are advised to only visit rides when accompanied by an adult. Statistics show that rides can sometimes move unpredictably or lift off the ground.

In view of these safety instructions, it is more than understandable that what happened at the Cranger fair on Sunday evening caused excitement among visitors and those responsible. Despite the incident, the positive aspects of the festival outweighed the negative aspects and the fair continued unimpaired. Many visitors come precisely for the exciting rides and festive atmosphere, but there remains a certain risk. So the thrill of the fair is always accompanied by a touch of caution.