DECISION OVER FAIRGROUND PROSECUTION My son fought for life for six days after the rollercoaster crash. It’s been two years now and no one has been charged. We deserve to have answers soon, the public deserve to have answers soon
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in an induced coma on a ventilator as he couldn’t breathe for himself. It was the worst sight of my life.
“The doctors were listing his injuries but it was difficult to even take it in.
“It was just a day out at a theme park and that’s the way he ended up. It’s shocking really.”
Medics were able to stabilise Ben and he was eventually transferred from critical care to high-dependency.
Such was the severity of his leg and pelvis injuries that Ben required a wheelchair when he was finally released from hospital several weeks later.
He suffered a further blow months later when a metal plate in his leg snapped and X-rays showed his thigh bone had not healed. A nail was inserted into the bone and he spent time in a wheelchair, then on crutches.
Ben, who’s due to start fourth year at Coltness High School, Wishaw, said his recollection of the actual crash is nil.
He said: “We had been on the Tsunami earlier and it stopped in the middle of the track for about 30 seconds.
“After that we went on the ferris wheel. We decided to go on Tsunami again. It was raining – and that’s the last thing I remember.
“The next thing is being in hospital. I am annoyed at what happened. It’s been a hard trying to get back to fitness but I’m lucky to be alive.”
Ben and his dad recalled how during his recovery he was finally able to get to matches at his beloved Motherwell FC, which raised his spirits. Craig also paid tribute to the emergency medics and hospital staff who worked to save his son’s life.
He said: “The trauma doctor and orthopaedic surgeons were immense. There is no doubt that Ben owes his life to these people.
“The fire service were great and met Ben afterwards and the security staff at Motherwell FC have been so helpful in accommodating Ben at matches.”
Ten people were taken to hospital, including two seriously injured boys.
The other, 11-year- old Liam Boyle suffered severe hand and arm injuries.
Four other boys, a 14-year-old girl and 19-year-old man were also detained in hospital. Victims crashed to the ground before bystanders tried to free those trapped in the mangled wreckage.
It was revealed following the crash that the HSE had found “significant issues” with the “condition of the mechanical and structural parts of the Tsunami”.
They had “serious concerns” about the maintenance of the Tsunami and other rides. The ride was dismantled and removed in February 2017.
The inverted rollercoaster appeared to detach from its rails at a bend, colliding with the ride’s main structure and then falling to the ground.
It emerged that an inspector who passed the ride as safe 16 days before the accident had been subssubsequently banned. The HSE issued a prohibition notice barring Craig Boswell from ccarrying out inspections of fairgfairground rides. BoswBoswell took himself off the registeregister of fairground ride inspectorinspectors after the crash. It was rrevealed last year that theme parkpar owners M&D Leisure received a £1.4million insurance payout afteraft being forced into a temporary shutdown after the crash. The park was closed for four days and only fully reopened three weeks later. An HSE spokeswoman said last week: “A report has been submitted to the Crown Office. “Any decision on further action is a matter for the Crown Office and as such we cannot comment further.” A Crown Off ice spokesman said: “There is no update that we can provide at present on the case.” A spokeswoman for M&D’s said: “We cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.”