Time to shut down M&D’s
Mum’s demand after son in scare
A terrified mum has called for the closure of M& D’s theme park after her three-year-old son cheated death when the Tsunami rollercoaster carriage missed him by inches.
Angry Amy Thomas told how little Dylan is lucky to be alive after the towering ride came crashing down only two-feet away from the toddler who was playing on a small green motorbike at the children’s fairground.
Yesterday ( Tuesday) Amy, of Shotts, told the Wishaw Press: “Dylan was on the motorbike and a wee girl bumped into him. If that wee girl hadn’t done that I don’t know if Dylan would still be here.”
Eight children and two adults were hospitalised after the Tsunami derailed and crashed to the ground at the Motherwell theme park on Sunday at 3.40pm.
A terrified mum has called for the closure of M& D’s theme park after her three- year- old son cheated death when the Tsunami rollercoaster carriage missed him by inches.
Angry Amy Thomas wants the amusement park shut down after the towering ride came crashing down only two feet away from little Dylan, who was on a small green motorbike there at the children’s fairground.
Eight children and two adults were hospitalised after the Tsunami derailed and crashed to the ground on Sunday at 3.40pm.
Amy told the Wishaw Press: “Dylan was on the motorbike and a wee girl bumped into him. If that wee girl hadn’t done that I don’t know if he would still be here.
“I will be the first one to sign a petition to get the place shut down — it’s absolutely terrible.”
Amy was enjoying a family day out at the park near Motherwell with husband Mark and little Dylan when the carnage occurred.
The toddler was on a small green motorbike — part of a children’s ri d e be n e at h the t ower ing Tsunami rollercoaster — when disaster struck.
As he sat happily on the bike, a carriage came off its tracks 20 feet above him and plummeted to the ground with terrified riders trapped inside.
Thankfully Dylan escaped unharmed despite pieces of the ride flying through the air.
Mum of one Amy, 24, of Shotts, told the Wishaw Press: “It’s absolutely terrible.
“This is not the first problem they have had in the park. We were just trying to enjoy a family day out and instead we witnessed that.”
Eight children and two adults were hospitalised after the crash, with those who witnessed it still haunted by the sight of the coaster smashing into the ground.
Amy recalled the aftermath of the derailing.
She added: “My first extinct was to run but I just stood there in shock.
“Mark managed to get Dylan up and get away from it. Dylan didn’t realise what had happened.
“It was just a mass panic. People were crying, it was very frightening.
“I have done a bungee jump and other things
If a wee girl hadn’t bumped Dylan on the bike, I don’t know if he’d be here now
like that but I never want Dylan to do anything like that now.”
Me an w h i l e , a Motherwell mum has told the Wishaw Press how she rushed to help victims of the accident.
Denise Martin (26) was waiting in line with her mother when the accident happened
She said: “I managed to squeeze my way through the crowd of people, trying to help, and was talking to a young boy around the age of 12 or 13.
“I was just trying to keep him calm and was asking him what his favourite football team was to take his mind off of it.
“I didn’t get his name but I really wish I had.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about him since, he seemed to have a bad head injury and was partially upside down with his face pressed against part of the structure.”
A joint investigation by Police Scotland and the Health & Safety Executive is under way.
Mo th e r w e l l and Wishaw MP Marion Fellows said: “I was devastated to hear of the incident that occurred at M& D’s theme park on Sunday afternoon. My thoughts are with all those involved in this serious incident and also with their family and friends.
“I want to thank the emergency services and members of the public for their hard work and efforts in coming to those in dire need.
“I welcome the news that the Health and Safety Executive immediately started an investigation at M&D’s and that the Head of Operations for the HSE in Scotland has been in attendance.
“Specialist mechanical engineering specialists are also involved in the investigation.”
Mo th e r w e l l and Wi s haw MSP Clare Adamson said: “I want to express my thanks to the emergency services and the NHS staff who have helped in the aftermath of the dreadful accident at M&D’s theme park and send my best wishes to the families affected by this terrible event.
“I am sure our whole community are behind them at this worrying time.”