Dreamspace tragedy mum’s fund aids families

Jul 23 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A CHARITY fund has helped 100 families since being set up in memory of a woman killed in the Dreamspace tragedy.

Mother-of-two Claire Furmedge died two years ago today on board the giant inflatable artwork.

On the second anniversary of the Chester-le-Street accident, which also killed 68-year-old Elizabeth Colling, from Seaham, County Durham, the charity Steps issued a renewed appeal for funding for the Claire Furmedge Equipment Fund, which helps children with hip conditions. Mrs Furmedge, 38, a radiographer at Gateshead’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, lived with husband Gary and their two children in Graythwaite, Chester-le-Street. She was inside the giant inflatable with two daughters, Jessica, eight, and Emily, six, when it broke free from its moorings at the Riverside Park.

Mrs Furmedge became a passionate supporter of Steps when Jessica was diagnosed with a hip condition as a baby and had raised money for more than seven years. The fund set up in her name provides a small grant to help towards the purchase of specialist car seats and high chairs.

Steps spokeswoman Ros Harrison said: “The Claire Furmedge Equipment Fund has proved to be a huge success, helping some 100 families with grants towards purchasing expensive equipment, usually car seats. However, the fund is now starting to run dry and money is desperately needed if we are to continue to offer this valuable grant to families, who would otherwise struggle to afford what is an essential piece of equipment.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a cheque (made payable to STEPS) to Anna Dorman, Claire Furmedge Equipment Fund, Steps Charity, Warrington Lane, Lymm, Cheshire WA4 2QN, or donate online at http://www.justgiving. com/ClaireFurmedgeEquipmentFund

The collapse of the Dreamspace exhibit saw 13 people injured in Riverside Park on July 23, 2006, the most seriously hurt being four-year-old Rosie Wright, from Langley Park, Durham, who was thrown 100ft into the air.

Rosie was crushed by a fan attached to the inflatable artwork when it flew into the air, suffering a punctured lung, internal bleeding, a damaged liver and head wounds, as well as a broken ankle, thigh, collarbone, ribs and back. Along with mum Penny and brother Jack, seven, she is now an active fundraiser for the North East Air Ambulance Fund.

Series of charges

MAURICE Agis, who created the multi-coloured artwork, has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence following an investigation into the incident at Chester-le-Street in July 2006.

Agis, 76, from Bethnal Green, East London, also faces a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Liverpool promotions company Brouhaha International Limited and Chester-le-Street District Council are also both charged with breaching the Health and Safety Act. The council’s director of development services, Tony Galloway, 48, of Wigglesworth, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is accused of a breach of the act by failing properly to assess the risks and precautionary measures necessary to exhibit Dreamspace.

Their trial has been provisionally fixed for January 26 next year. The defendants are all on unconditional bail.