M&D’s park open to public one month after crash

M&D’s theme park has re-opened almost a month after a rollercoaster crash that left 10 people in hospital.

Five carriages derailed from the Tsunami ride at the site in Strathclyde Country Park in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, on Sunday, June 26.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and 10 people, including eight children, were taken to hospital for treatment for serious head, leg and arm injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) joined police in investigating the incident and last week issued a prohibition notice banning the safety inspector who had approved the Tsunami before its crash.

The Tsunami will remain closed, but M&D’s said all other rides have been tested and the re-opening of the park has been approved by HSE.

A spokesman said: “Safety remains our paramount concern and each and every ride will continue to be safety-checked on a daily basis.

“The Tsunami remains closed until further notice.”

The theme park apologised earlier after a billboard for a new ride carried the phrase “bring on the fear”.

The advert for the Giant Condor ride appeared on a street in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.

An M&D’s spokesman said: “All of our planned advertising campaigns were cancelled in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami accident.

“An error by our billboard agency Clear Channel resulted in this advert appearing on a single site.”

The advert says: “You can soar into the sky to over 30 metres in 28 custom-built gondolas built for two. It’s big, it’s very scary, it’s The Giant Condor.’’