Lucky-escape dad hits out
The Larkhall dad of a toddler who was almost crushed by a derailed rollercoaster is shocked at the theme park re-opening just days after the horrific accident.
Liam Wilson was with his daughter Miah at the park on Sunday, June 26, when the incident unfolded.
Just moments before the rollercoaster came off the track, his daughter was playing on the toddler bikes directly beneath the Tsunami ride.
Liam said had his daughter’s bike not collided with another then the pair of them would not be here today.
The 35-year-old this week said he would “never go back” and believes the park should be shut down.
He was shocked to hear that the park had re-opened its indoor facilities just days after the incident.
Liam said: “Myself and my daughter were one of the lucky ones. Had the little bike that she was riding not bumped into another toddler’s bike, we would both not be here today – and to hear that they have re-opened part of the park while there is still an investigation under way – I can’t believe it. It is shocking.”
Liam had been at the park with his wife, Kirsty, and his younger boy Jayden (three) and another couple and their young family. This week, Liam told the Advertiser how close he and his five-year-old were to being hit by the rollercoaster.
He said: “My wife was round at the pirate ships with my son, so I decided to go to the other end with my wee girl and she wanted to go on a pink toddler bike.
“She must have only been on it for about a minute when she and another wee boy bumped bikes. Myself and the other dad went up to separate them and sent the kids going round the track the other way. Just then, there was a huge noise.
“I grabbed Miah to make sure she was safe and looked on – it was like something out a horror film.
“I took her over to find her mum before going and helping out with those who were in the rollercoaster. I can’t believe how close it was to ourselves.
“I helped one girl out of the rollercoaster and I lifted her out and she just said, ‘Please don’t drop me’.
“Ever since it happened I can’t stop thinking about it. As the days go on, it’s getting better. I have never been involved in anything like this and really don’t want it to happen to anyone else.”
Around 3.40pm on Sunday, June 26, emergency services rushed to the park after M&D’S rollercoaster derailed in Strathclyde Park, Motherwell.
Five gondolas attached in a train in the Tsunami inverted rollercoaster detached from its rails at a bend, hit the ride’s main structure and fell to the ground.
There were nine passengers on board, including two 19-year-olds and seven children.