Water rides closed after girl’s death

WATER rides throughout the country have been closed until an inquiry into the death of a girl at a theme park is completed.

The family of 11-year-old Evha Jannath, who died after falling from the Splash Canyon water ride, have asked for it to remain closed until an investigation is finished.

Drayton Manor Park has been accused of ignoring a safety warning over the ride four years ago. Vikki Treacy said she warned bosses at the Staffordshire theme park four years ago after her son Patrick, aged 10 at the time, was thrown into the rapids on the ride.

Mrs Treacy, 46, blamed park bosses for failing to ensure the ride was safe, and said Evha’s death was an “accident waiting to happen.”

A spokesman for Drayton Manor said it could not comment during the ongoing investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with the support of Staffordshire police. Yesterday water rides at other parks – including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Legoland – were also suspended while police and the HSE investigate Evha’s death.

She is believed to have been standing up to change seats with a classmate when she was bumped over the side of her raft.

In a statement, her family called for the ride to be suspended and also asked for the immediate release of Evha’s body so it could be buried.