A dad is demanding answers after his young daughter narrowly escaped serious injury when a harness strap snapped on a bungee trampoline.

Ray Curran, a health and safety expert, is “appalled” that fairground staff refused to stop the ride and ignored his pleas to carry out checks.

He slammed the operators after the 10-year-old girl came tumbling down at force when the cord broke while at ‘Dinosaurs in the Park’ attraction held in Swanley Park this half term.

Mr Curran, who is the operations manager at Dockside Chatham shopping centre, grabbed Jorgie from the jump mat and a first aider rushed to help.

Her eight-year-old brother Zeph, who had been on the trampoline earlier and witnessed the fall, was comforted by friends.

Meanwhile, Mr Curran urged for the attraction to be cordoned off while urgent safety checks were carried out

He said it “beggars belief” that it carried on with around four children still on board with the damaged strap left dangling from the frame.

The 51-year-old, from Meopham, said: “I don’t have an axe to grind. My daughter was in pieces and very distressed, but it was a near miss. The next child might not be so lucky.

“What angers me is the lack of care for the public in keeping it open. That is so fundamentally wrong.”

On the way home, he took Jorgie for a check up at the Gravesend Community Hospital where a nurse told him she could have been blinded if the cord had recoiled and struck her in the face.

Since the incident on Monday afternoon, he has taken the matter further by informing the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and contacting Sevenoaks District Council and Swanley Town Council, which manages the park in New Barn Road.

He said: “The management of the whole situation is beyond appalling, and I have engaged with the HSE today, who are investigating.

“It’s disgraceful that they kept the ride open whilst my daughter was moved away from the ride to get treatment.”

A spokesman for Dinosaurs in the Park has told KentOnline the required safety documentation was “in place” and the equipment had been “signed off” by an independent health safety specialist.

He confirmed the ride was not closed following the incident, and checks were made after the family had left.

But Mr Curran in unhappy with their response to the incident, adding: “I am not going to take this lying down.

“The lack of care to public safety is what needs to be held to account.”

Mr Curran visited the park with a group of friends who have given written witness accounts as they accompanied their children on the tour.

One, Elin Rogers said: “I was flabbergasted with how the staff did not take action to halt the ride and carried on regardless by taking tokens from the public.”

Another mum, Stephanie Calvert, added: “Everything seemed normal at first - she (Jorgie) was smiling and appeared to be enjoying herself.

“After a few minutes of bouncing, I suddenly saw one of the bungee cords snap or break. The broken cord recoiled her arm and hand. She cried out in pain.

In a statement sent to KentOnline, Matt Fortet marketing coordinator for Dinosaurs in the Park, said: “All required safety documentation was in place, and the equipment had been signed off by an independent health and safety professional prior to opening.

“During the incident, one of the bungee cords failed. However, the remaining cords held securely in place, as designed, preventing the child from being thrown from the ride.

“These systems are engineered to absorb stress and maintain control even in the event of partial failure. Unfortunately, the child was struck by the failed cord and sustained some bruising.

“Our trained first aider responded immediately and provided care at the scene. A medic from our event team was also present shortly afterwards to offer additional support.

“Both advised the family to attend hospital as a precaution, and we understand the child was later seen at a walk-in centre.

“To our knowledge, no further medical care was required. No emergency services were needed or called to the site.”

Mr Fortet added: “The trampoline bungee attraction is operated independently by Freeman’s Amusements under a contracted agreement.

“We have requested a full incident report and relevant maintenance documentation from the operator. Freeman Amusements has also contacted the appropriate local authorities to ensure full transparency and cooperation.”

He said the failure of a bungee cord is “extremely rare”, and the equipment is designed to continue operating safely in such circumstances.

“Based on the safety design and the immediate response from our team, the ride was not closed following the incident, although checks were made as soon as the girl and her family had left the site,” he added.

“Guest safety remains our highest priority, and we continue to review all procedures to ensure the highest standards of compliance and care.”

A spokesman for Swanley Town Council said: “We are disappointed to hear about this incident and have requested that Dinosaurs in the Park Ltd work cooperatively together with the Environmental Health department (at Sevenoaks District Council) to get to the bottom of this event promptly.”

Freeman’s Amusements and the HSE have been approached for comment.