Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS), on behalf of the Ministry for Culture, can confirm that the adult bumper cars attraction at the Gibraltar Fair will reopen tonight.

Yesterday, Tuesday 25th August, the GHA reviewed a number of patients who attended with symptoms of eye irritation. The majority had removal of foreign objects from their eyes. Fortunately, there have been no cases of permanent damage that have been identified to date. 

The attraction has been fully inspected and cleared for safe operation. Inspections and amendments to the ride have been carried out by the Government contracted Fair Inspectors, including structural, mechanical and electrical engineers as well as an independent health and safety officer. These include the removal of the dry ice (smoke machines) as well as changing all iron rods pertaining to each bumper car. 

The inspections were carried out in the presence of the Director of Public Health, GEA senior management, and representatives of the Government’s Chief Technical Office. 

The health and safety of the public remains the priority and the attraction and entire fairground will continue to be monitored daily as per norm.

The Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Carter, said: ‘I would like to thank our GHA colleagues who assessed and treated the young people yesterday with eye irritation. I am reassured that there have been no cases of permanent eye damage identified to date. Eye irritation or ‘fair red eye’ is a known risk following riding on fast fairground rides. If anyone experiences symptoms of pain, irritation or itching of the eyes that lasts more than a couple of hours please contact 111 for advice and they will determine if an A&E assessment is required.’