Girl, 11, dies on Drayton Manor ride
By MARTIN FRICKER, JAYNE THOMSON, PAUL COLE, JAMES CARTLEDGE & SAM JONES
AN investigation is underway today into the death of an 11-year-old girl killed after falling off a water ride during a school trip to Drayton Manor theme park.
The youngster was with classmates when she plunged into the water on the Splash Canyon river rapids yesterday at the family-run Staffordshire attraction.
Her horrified friends raised the alarm after watching her fall from the circular six-person boat. Rescue teams, including firefighters and paramedics, raced to the scene near Tamworth shortly after 2.20pm.
The girl had already been pulled from the water by park staff and was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious injuries.
Tragically, despite the best efforts of medics, she died shortly after arriving at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Her parents, who are from Leicester, were notified about the tragedy by police and school officials. It is understood that the girl, who has not been named at her parents’ request, attended the Islamic Jameah Girls Academy in Leicester.
The Splash Canyon ride is described by Drayton Manor as a family fun attraction: “Swerve around corners, splash through the waves, and get soaked as your boat is swept along our fast-flowing rapids.
“No two experiences are ever the same. So grab your friends and family, climb on board one of our circular boats, and get ready for a wild ride through the water!”
Theme park boss George Bryan, grandson of Drayton Manor’s founder, fought back tears as he spoke of the tragedy.
“It is with great sadness we have to report that a young girl has passed away at Birmingham Children’s Hospital following an incident on one of our rides this afternoon,” he said. “Our staff were alerted that an 11-year-old girl had entered the water.
“Trained park staff were immediately on the scene, attending to the patient, and West Midlands Air Ambulance arrived and airlifted her to hospital.
“We are truly shocked and devastated, and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this tremendously difficult time.”
Park bosses closed the park early and asked visitors to leave the site following the horrific incident. A probe involving police and the Health and Safety Executive is underway into the cause of the tragedy.
Police confirmed that the girl was on a school trip. “A teacher must have either been inside the ride or in close proximity,” they said. “But that will be a matter for the HSE to investigate.”