Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Horror at Pontins as club roof collapses
18 hurt as Pontins clubhouse roof collapses
FAMILIES ran for their lives as a ceiling collapsed during an entertainment session at a Pontins resort.
Six ambulances and a hazardous area response team raced to attend to casualties at Brean Sands holiday park in Burnham-on-sea, Somerset.
Eighteen people were treated and six of them were taken to hospital.
Mum Lisa Cook, 40, said she was hit by part of the ceiling when it came down at around 6pm.
She said: “There was a loud crack and part of the ceiling came down on me.
“It was chaos, people were screaming and shouting and running around.
“There were a couple of people underneath it, but they managed to get out. Big sheets of wood came down and scraped my neck.”
Ms Cook said she was among at least 100 people in the room playing bingo or watching children’s entertainment.
She said: “My son hid under the table, we ran outside, we got straight out of there. After we got out, I went back in and lifted the boards to see if there was anyone underneath.”
Adrian Besley, who was staying at the park with his partner, said: “It looks like the main clubhouse roof has collapsed.” Another guest, Andrew Haughton, said: “A large heating vent and part of the ceiling collapsed over the crowd.” Laura Robinson said: “My family and I just witnessed the ceiling come down in the clubhouse across families.” Avon and Somerset Police said: “A number of people suffered minor injuries in the incident but no one was seriously hurt.” Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said about 130ft of structural ducting and ceiling sections had fallen down, exposing live, damaged wiring.
Pontins did not comment last night.