A grandmother was maimed for life in a freak accident at the funfair when a ride jammed and flipped her out of the cabin.
The woman, who is in her sixties, was thrown from the Jungle River log flume with her granddaughter, 4, on the seafront at Bridlington in East Yorkshire yesterday afternoon.
It is believed the ride did not have enough water in it, causing the carriage to stick and then jolt.
Hundreds of shocked holidaymakers watched in horror as the woman was airlifted to hospital - her leg may have been amputated before she was flown to Hull Royal Infirmary
Her granddaughter was taken to Scarborough Hospital suffering cuts and bruises to her legs.
An investigation into the safety of the funfair is now under way.
Witnesses said there was 'blood everywhere' after the pair, who have not been named, were 'flipped' out of the ride.
One worker at a nearby stall said : 'It was horrible, there was blood everywhere. The woman's leg was really badly damaged.
'The carriage was going down the rails when it got stuck. When they restarted the ride it flipped them out.
'I saw the older woman stand up then someone made her lie down until the ambulance came. '
The fairground worker added: 'They don't have seat belts on the ride because it goes too slowly but it must have been a freak accident.
'There's cushioning on the front and the back of the car, I've been on it dozens of times and there has never been a problem.'
Janet Porter, aged 24, who works at a nearby café said: 'There were hundreds of people watching the police cars and ambulances and the helicopter.'
Protection: A worker on the ride said their is cushioning on the cars and that the ride goes too slowly for seat belts to be installed (file picture)
Protection: A worker on the ride said their is cushioning on the cars and that the ride goes too slowly for seat belts to be installed (file picture)
A spokesman for the coastguard said: 'We were called to a major incident at the fun fair at Bridlington at about 3.15pm.
'As the log flume came down, there was not enough water, which jolted the two victims out of the ride.
'It appears there may have been a leg amputation before the woman was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary.'
Bridlington Town Council had previously asked for the funfair on the seafront to be moved to a more suitable place.
Mayor Councillor Cyril Marsburg said: 'I have always considered the fun fair too compact.
'Safety measures are carried out but when something like this happens it is terrible.
'It is very sad to hear the woman has lost her leg. There will certainly be a backlash to this now.
'We have been asking for the fair to be moved elsewhere, but I don't see that happening.'
But Mr Marsburg does not believe this accident will affect tourism in the town.
He said: 'I am sure many people will not go on that ride, but it isn't true that people just come here for the rides.
'Many people come for the sea, sand and the promenade.'
The Jungle River log flume ride is part of the Bayside Pleasure Park, just north of the harbour at Bridlington