A schoolgirl was killed when she slipped from her seat on a spinning fairground ride and was flung into a metal bar.

Britany Fernandez, 13, was riding the pendulum-style mechanical swing as her family watched at a carnival in Santa Barbara, Honduras, on Sunday evening August 14.

Horrifying footage shows how moments into the ride the rusty lock on the safety bars which was holding Britany into her seat appeared to open.

She was seen clinging to the ride while the wheel spun around at high speed. A sickening thud was then heard as the youngster's body slammed into the metal platform below and her head hit a railing.

Locals rushed to help her but she suffered a catastrophic blow to the head - believed to be from hitting the iron railing bar - and was declared dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Hundreds of shocked school friends gathered for a memorial service before Britany's funeral yesterday August 16 in the Trinidad area of the city.

Wilmer Reyes, the headmaster at the Juan Lindo Institute where Britany studied, called for action to be taken against the fairground operators to improve safety.

He said: 'Britany was a charismatic young girl, very humble. In the military marching band, she played the snare drum.

'We are really dismayed about what happened because she was very well loved at the school, which is shown by the more than 300 pupils who have accompanied her family in their devastating loss.

'We ask that these kinds of fairground rides have greater security measures in order to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.'

Classmates said that Britany was 'full of life, cheerful and intelligent'.

Friend Estefany Pineda added: 'Britany was always calm, she had a very nice manner. She was always kind. This is so sad that it happened because she had so many dreams in life.'

Local media reported that the fairground had been closed since the incident happened. Officials launched an investigation into the tragedy but so far no arrests have been made.

The owners of the ride reportedly told local TV that they 'have the operating permits' and blamed the girl's parents.

They said: 'The little girl went up unaccompanied by her parents and she fainted. It is not our fault, we have operating permits.'

Officers have now passed the case to the country's Police Directorate of Investigations to gather evidence for a report to be submitted to the country's Public Ministry. The department will then consider whether criminal action is necessary.

Jesus Pineda from Santa Barbara Police said: 'From the initial investigations, it was determined that Britany's death was accidental. The minor hit a platform on the ride, which instantly caused her death.'