Australian boy in critical condition after falling off carnival ride

An Australian boy was in a critical condition after falling off a carnival ride in southeast Victoria, a hospital spokesman said on Tuesday.

The boy, reported to be 5 years old, suffered critical head and foot injuries after falling from the ride at the Rye Easter Carnival on Monday evening.

In a statement, Ambulance Victoria said paramedics rushed to the scene and worked on the boy before he was flown to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne by air ambulance.

A spokesperson for the hospital said on Tuesday morning that the boy remained in a critical condition.

Sean Lynch, a witness of the incident, said the boy's mother was "really upset" as paramedics worked on her son.

"I was about 30 metres away ... she was really upset," Lynch told News Limited on Tuesday.

"It was so awful to see. I have a kid myself and the thought it could have been mine is shocking."

He said at least six ambulance crews attended the scene before the air ambulance arrived.

"They were holding blankets around the boy so no one could see what was going on," he said.

"I just hope the young fella pulls through ... It was pretty awful to see."

Lynch said he believed the incident occurred on the Cha Cha ride which spins both clockwise and counter-clockwise at the same time at high speed.

WorkSafe confirmed on Tuesday that it would investigate the incident.

In 2011, a 13-year-old girl was left with a deep gash and nerve damage to her head after being thrown from a similar ride at Lilydale, 35 km northeast of Melbourne. Endit