HORROR ON THE RAPIDS: GIRL 11 DEAD
Tragic new theme park accident
A GIRL aged 11 died after falling from a “wet and wild” river rapids ride at a popular theme park yesterday.
The youngster, on a school trip, tumbled into the water on the Splash Canyon attraction at Drayton Manor, Staffs.
June 2015: 16 injured, five seriously. Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, each had a leg amputated after 90mph smash on the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers. August 2012: Mum-of-two Carla Knight died of a heart attack at Drayton Manor after riding white-knuckle rollercoaster Maelstrom.
July 2011: Several people injured on a ride at M&D’s theme park in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, after being stranded 60 feet in the air for eight hours. June 2006: Firefighters rescued eight children and four adults trapped 40ft above ground when the Terror Rack ride at Pleasure Island in Cleethorpes, Lincs, broke down. July 2005: Four people were hurt when a car came off its track at Ocean Beach amusement park in Rhyl, north Wales, when they were hit by another car. A 32-year-old woman and 30-year-old man were treated for chest injuries. April 2004: Hayley Liane Williams,16, plummeted to her death from a ride at Oakwood theme park near Tenby, Pembrokeshire. Hayley, of Pontypool, Monmouthshire, fell from the Hydro Ride. July 2002: Teenager Salma Saleem plunged 30ft from a Ferris wheel at Gulliver’s World in Warrington, Cheshire. It was not clear how the 15-yearold, who had Down’s Syndrome, managed to fall from the gondola, but Chester Crown Court – which fined the operators £80,000 – heard that locks on the restraining lap bars had a history of breaking. June 2001: University student Gemma Savage died when two cars collided on the Treetop Twister ride at the Lightwater Valley theme park, near Ripon, North Yorkshire.