A fairground worker who died at work was trying to retrieve a jacket when an amusement ride came crashing down on his head, his heartbroken family believe.
Corrie Lee Stavers, a 28-year-old father-of-one, was killed in an ‘absolute tragedy’ after he was struck in the head by the ‘Experience’ attraction at the Spanish City Summer Funfair in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, on Saturday.
A haunting final photo, shared on his Facebook just three days before his death, shows Mr Stavers, from Sunderland, smiling on one of the rides at the fairground wearing his Turners Funfairs uniform.
The ‘doting’ father had also shared several selfies and videos of his five-year-old son – described by his friends as a ‘mini you’ – and was battling back after losing his mother last year.
Police and paramedics rushed to the fairground at around 2.15pm, with witnesses recalling how they desperately tried to save Mr Stavers after he was hit by the ride, which features a row of seats suspended in the air and rotated at speed.
Corrie’s father, 50-year-old Lee Stavers, told the Daily Mail today: ‘It’s an absolute tragedy. It was literally already all over social media before the family actually found out.’
The family are now searching for answers from the investigation which is being led by Northumbria Police and supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
‘The police have spoken to us and they’ve told us Corrie was obviously operating this ride and he’s gone to get a jacket or something and obviously misjudged the timing or something and the ride’s come down,’ Mr Stavers said.
Just three days before his death, Corrie Lee Stavers (pictured) had updated his Facebook profile picture to a photo of him smiling at the fairground wearing his Turners Funfairs uniform
Witnesses recalled how paramedics desperately tried to save him but he was declared dead at the scene
‘But we just don’t know. There’s obviously the health and safety investigation going on so we are kind of still in the dark at the moment.
‘We just feel like everything’s just happened so suddenly. We just really can’t figure out why this has happened. We just don’t understand it, it’s not sinking in at the moment. I hope one day we might be able to get those answers.
‘I’m just trying to find a way to get through this with my family and get my son the best send off we can.’
Corrie’s family have set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for his funeral and the future of his five-year-old son, Lennie-Lee.
Mr Stavers added: ‘His son, my grandson, Lennie has been left without a father.’
He described Corrie as an ‘amazing father’, adding: ‘He absolutely doted on that child. He was an absolute wonderful father to him.’
Mr Stavers, who does not use social media, tragically revealed that he only found out about his son’s death after a colleague told him to urgently contact his family.
He revealed that Corrie used to be a very keen boxer but had been forced to stop after a nose injury. His brother, however, has taken over and is doing ‘really well’, Mr Stavers said.
Mr Stavers believed his son enjoyed his job, explaining: ‘He looked happy. You can see by his profile picture, he looked happy.
‘That’s what he’s done on and off for several years so he obviously was enjoying it.’
Describing his late son, he told the Daily Mail: ‘He was just a very kind, loving lad. He would do anything for anybody, if anybody asked him to do anything, he would just do it regardless.
‘He was always one of them lads who just wanted to please. He just wanted to be loved. He was a brilliant father.’
Police and paramedics rushed to the Spanish City Summer Funfair in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, at around 2.15pm on Saturday after Stavers was hit by the ride
A police cordon seen around the Experience ride in Whitley Bay after the incident on Saturday
It comes after his siblings released a heartbreaking joint statement, penning: ‘It’s with broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our beloved brother Corrie has passed away.
‘He was tragically taken from us in an accident while working on a fairground ride. None of us were prepared for this, and the pain of losing him so suddenly is impossible to put into words.
‘Our lives will never be the same without him, but his memory will live on in our hearts forever. We love you endlessly, Corrie and we miss you more than words can ever say. Your with our mam now rest in peace Corrie.’
Mr Stavers’ brother shared the post, writing his own tribute: ‘Really don’t know what to say, I am in absolute shock, The whole family are. Please bear with me to come back to any messages. He is up there with our Mam now.’
Dozens of friends have also left emotional messages, saying they are ‘absolutely heartbroken’. Many said he would now be reunited with his mother, who is understood to have died recently.
On April 12, Mr Stavers shared a photo of a memorial for his mother and wrote: ‘Love you mam miss you so much.’
One witness claimed that they saw Mr Stavers ‘hit in the head’ while he was working on the ride. They added: ‘Poor workers trying to revive him for 25 mins. Just bloody awful.’
Another said: ‘My family were there as it happened the ride clipped him as it was finishing and crushes him. They were trying to revive him for ages…’
Police have contacted the Health and Safety Executive to ‘establish exactly what happened’.
A HSE spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘We are aware of the incident and assisting Northumbria Police in the investigation’
The entire fair, which was packed with families, was due to be open from Thursday through to Bank Holiday Monday but it was shut down.
The entire fair, which was packed with families over the weekend, has been shut down
Dozens of friends have left emotional tributes, saying they are ‘absolutely heartbroken’
An air ambulance was seen landing on the grass area next to the fairground.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said on Saturday: ‘Shortly after 2.15pm today, we received a report that a man had been injured in a workplace accident at Spanish City Summer Funfair in the Spanish City Plaza area of Whitley Bay in North Tyneside.
‘Emergency services attended and a man in his 20s was found to have suffered serious head injuries.
‘Despite the best efforts of medical staff who attended the scene, a short time later, the man was sadly declared dead.
‘His next of kin have been contacted and are being supported by specialist officers.
‘Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this extremely difficult time.
‘We have contacted the Health and Safety Executive and are working with them to establish exactly what happened.
‘The fair has been closed to the public and will remain closed until further notice.
An ambulance is pictured at the scene where the tragedy happened on Saturday
Dog walkers at the popular seaside spot expressed their shock at the horror inside at the funfair
‘Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police by sending them a direct message on social media, or by using the live chat or report form functions on the Force’s website.’
Dog walkers at the popular seaside spot had earlier expressed their shock at the horror inside at the funfair.
One said: ‘It’s horrific. You don’t expect something like this.
‘The fair is usually open in the afternoon but it’s obvious something really serious has happened.’
