Mom Posts Incredibly Graphic Photos After Her 11-Year-Old's Scalp Was Torn Off by Carnival Ride
Omaha, Nebraska, authorities are investigating after 11-year-old Elizabeth (Lulu) Gilreath's scalp was torn off by the above-pictured Cinco de Mayo carnival ride, WOWT reports. Her hair was tangled in the ride for a full five to10 minutes before a bystander noticed Lulu was "tortured" and "bleeding," and stopped the ride.
"Please pray for my baby girl," Lulu's mother Virginia Cooksey wrote in a Facebook post accompanied by extremely graphic pictures on Mother's Day: "Lulu is such a amazing and out going little girl she has to make it threw [sic] this she want [sic] to be a senator when she grows up. She loves to read and learn. She loves her family dearly."
In a more recent post, Virginia wrote doctors are keeping Lulu sedated and comfortable, but gave no further update to her condition, though Lulu's father Timothy said in a press conference, "They don't even know if the muscles will work and if my daughter will ever see again." Virginia also asked people to stop reporting the hospital pictures of Lulu as she's trying to raise awareness about the dangers of carnival rides with them.
The rides were furnished by Thomas D. Thomas shows. Carnival manager Katie Weddleton told WOWT, "Thomas D. Thomas Shows values the safety and health of our guests above all else and we are saddened by this accident. At this time, an investigation is underway" and that "safety is our top priority - 100 percent."
WTVR released surveillance footage from a nearby shop that appears to show the ride manager running from the ride (pictured below) once it was stopped. It's unclear if he was running to get help. The same footage also captured the woman who noticed Lulu bleeding and physically stopped the ride by hand.
A GoFundMe has already raised $16,000 to help with Lulu's treatment and eventually get her a wig to wear. You can donate here.
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