The 2006 Dreamspace V incident was an accidental liftoff of the art piece Dreamspace V by Maurice Agis in Riverside Park, County Durham, in 2006 that resulted in the deaths of two people and multiple injuries.
On 23 July 2006, unexpected wind gusts loosened the inflatable structure from its moorings, causing the art piece to lift into the air.[1] Claire Furmedge (born c. 1968) and Elizabeth Collings (born c. 1938) were inside the inflatable structure when it lifted into the air, folded over itself, and crashed into a nearby carpark, where both were killed after falling out of the structure.[1][2] About 20–30 others were inside the structure when it lifted into the air.[3][4]
A CCTV camera filmed the fatal liftoff, and the poll the camera was on caught part of Dreamspace after it lifted off the ground.[5]
- ^ a b Summers, Mark (2009-01-29). "Dreamspace: the tragic moment". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ Bates, Stephen (2009-03-06). "No retrial for artist whose inflatable Dreamspace creation led to two deaths". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ "Dreamspace artwork deaths: Council and charity blamed". BBC News. 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ Jury, Louise (2006-07-24). "The end of a dream: Dreamspace turns into a nightmare". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ "Judge to decide Dreamspace art deaths blame". BBC News. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2023-05-27.