Holly Brown was on the Mega Drop with her friend at the Kilcoy Show in Queensland, 100km northwest of Brisbane, on Saturday, May 13 when her rollercoaster-style restraint released and swung above her head, reported 9 News.

The Mega Drop ride is advertised as “Australia’s tallest travelling drop tower” where riders are dropped from 43m high at 210km hour.

Holly and her friend’s mother, Danielle Snow, told 9 News the ride operator grabbed the rising platform to desperately get to the safety harness but slipped and fell about 3m.

He was then alleged to have told Holly and her friend to jump off.

“I’d been on this ride before so I knew what was going to happen,” Holly said.

“So I thought, ‘Well, I either jump and maybe I break a few bones or I go up and die.’

“So I was like, ‘You know what, breaking bones is better than losing my life.’ So I jumped.”

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) confirmed to news.com.au it was investigating the incident and the ride is not in operation.

“WHSQ inspectors and engineers attended the scene,” a spokesperson said.

“With this being an active investigation, WHSQ is unable to provide further information at this time.”

Holly said she remembers feeling “excruciating pain”.

Her mother, Katie Sanzo, told 9 News she suffered a lateral malleolus fracture – a fracture of the lower fibula – and further scans were still needing to be done to explore possible further damage.

Ms Snow said after Holly jumped off, her daughter was still on the ride unbuckled when the ride attendant hit an emergency stop button.

9 News reported that Sunshine Coast-based P&C Amusements, understood to be the owners and operators of the ride, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. News.com.au has also contacted them for comment.

Ms Sanzo did not wish to comment further.