Children get a scare as cable snaps at Safra Yishun high-wire course
Children terrified when cable on 15m-high obstacle course breaks but no one is hurt
The guy wire, a tensioned cable attached to one of the high-element obstacle course structures, had snapped.
Mr Justyn Olby, 46, a teacher, was near the starting point of the obstacle course when his children were about to attempt it.
The broken wire unnerved them.
He said: "My kids were terrified. But the response from the staff was good and they moved to help my children and the other kids down."
No one was hurt.
Mr Olby said the incident happened as his children were attending his son's friend's birthday party at the Safra Adventure Sports Centre, at Safra Yishun Country Club.
At about 5pm last Saturday, Mr Olby's son, nine, daughter, six, and several of their friends were embarking on the Canopy Sky Walk. Suddenly, one of the guy wires attached from the ground to the structure snapped.
There was another group attempting a connected course on an even higher platform, which is about 18m high.
Mr Olby estimated there were no more than 15 participants, including children, on the course at that time.
But the participants were not in any immediate danger because they were in harnesses and were attached to a supporting cable that prevented them from falling to the ground, he said.
He added that the overall structure did not seem to be in danger of collapsing even though it shook when the cable snapped.
Mr Olby later inspected the cable that snapped and found it was rusty and crumbling.
He took photos and sent them to The New Paper.
SAFRA SAYS
A Safra spokesman said yesterday that all activities were halted after the incident and the facility was closed for repairs.
He added that the structure is certified by professional engineers every year and the last inspection was on Oct 30 last year.
While rust was detected on one of the guy line cables, the wires attached to the main poles were deemed to be in good condition and the facilities at the Safra Adventure Sports Centre were certified for use by a professional engineer, he said.
The cable has been replaced and certified by a member of the Association of Challenge Course Technology. Investigations into the cause of the snap are ongoing, he added.
He said: "The safety of patrons is our top priority. Before activities are conducted, Safra's adventure trainers will inspect the high elements daily to ensure that they are in good working condition.
"The safety of the participants were unaffected by the snapping of the guy line cable."
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