Artist on bail after tragedy

Jul 10 2007 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

DREAMSPACE designer Maurice Agis has had his bail extended until September.

The abstract artist was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after two women were killed when his inflatable work was lifted off the ground by wind last July.

Agis, 74, from East London, was arrested in November by detectives from County Durham at London’s Charing Cross police station, where he has been answering bail.

His arrest followed the tragedy at a family-day when the inflatable, half the size of a football pitch, was blown 60ft into the air above Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street, with scores of people inside.

Mother-of-two Claire Furmedge, 38, from Graythwaite, Chester-le- Street, and retired clerk Elizabeth Anne Collings, 68, of Dalton Heights, Seaham, were killed.

Among the injured was four-year-old Rosie Wright, of Langley Park, County Durham, who suffered multiple injuries after being thrown from the inflatable exhibit as it broke loose.

She was critically injured but has now recovered from appalling injuries, including a punctured lung, a lacerated liver, multiple broken bones and internal bleeding.

Agis said earlier that the disaster had devastated him. An investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive is still continuing as to how the tragedy happened. Agis is due to return to answer bail on September 3.