The grandmother decided that it was too high to jump and so tried to climb down backwards. However, she fell from a step onto the asphalt below and suffered horrific injuries.
Court documents state that she fractured her left femur, right fibula, and shattered her pelvis in three places.
She was rushed to hospital where she would spend the next three months.
The summary of facts says she has not been able to return to work as a library assistant and faces ongoing rehabilitation.
The ride's operator was Russell Gordon Harris, a 77-year-old Christchurch pensioner, operating as Joy Rides.
He was charged by WorkSafe New Zealand with failing to notify an inspector and the local authority within 48 hours of the serious accident and failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that any hazards of the ride did not harm its users.
At Christchurch District Court today, Judge Gary MacAskill cleared Harris of the allegation that he failed to protect the rider users from hazards.
The judge said the allegation that Harris should've taken steps to address the step hazard was "the product of hindsight" and "unreasonable".
Harris earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to notify authorities of the accident within 48 hours.
Crown prosecutor Kathy Bell told the court that immediate notification of such accidents was imperative so that they could be properly investigated.
"When notified, this ride was no longer in situ," she said.
Judge MacAskill convicted Harris and fined him $750.
The judge feared that ride operators like Harris "don't know the importance" of prompt reporting, so more education needs to be done.
