Theme parks warned after death
A CORONER has urged theme park operators to address water ride safety concerns after an inquest into the drowning of an 11-year-old girl in the Midlands.
The assistant coroner for south Staffordshire, Margaret Jones, has written a Report for the Prevention of Future Deaths to UK theme park bosses after concluding an inquest into the death of Evha Jannath.
Evha was “propelled” from a vessel on the Splash Canyon river rapids ride at Drayton Manor in Staffordshire during a trip with friends from Jameah Girls Academy in Leicester on May 9 2017.
An inquest heard last month how, apparently unharmed from the fall, she waded to the end of the ride but fell into deeper water while trying to climb an algae-covered “travelator”. She was later discovered dead in the water.
The coroner has sent the report to Drayton Manor, Alton Towers, also in Staffordshire, Legoland, in Berkshire, Thorpe Park, in Surrey, and operators Merlin Entertainments and Lightwater Valley Theme Park.
Mrs Jones added: “In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.”
Identifying six “matters of concern”, she said it was “not possible to adequately monitor CCTV” on the ride that day because staff had other tasks to complete, and also high- lighted the fact only half the ride’s route was covered cameras.
She added there had been no safety warnings given to guests boarding the ride’s boats, warning signs were incomplete, and in
by some cases were wear and tear.
The coroner said no water rescue equipment was available to staff and they had not been trained in such rescues.
The coroner also drew attention to a water ride safety notice issued to all theme parks immediately after Evha’s death, by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
She asked for a detailed response from Drayton Manor’s manager to the concerns raised at the inquest, and replies regarding actions taken as a result of the HSE notice from all theme park managers nationally.
The ride, which has been closed since the incident, will not be reopened without HSE approval.
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