Inside horrific UK theme park disasters – deaths, decapitations and amputations

Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to the Daily Star’s newsletter

We have more newsletters

Multiple theme parks across the country have been subjected to scenes of horrific crashes, causing injuries that have even led to death.

Theme parks are supposed to be fun – wholesome places where all the family can have a laugh, see some cool sights and get the pulse racing a little.

But this isn’t always the case – for on rare occasions, the big family day out has been the last one some people ever take.

READ MORE: Theme park horror as gunman leaves three with bullet wounds in ‘targeted incident’

Even more heartbreakingly, it’s often children who end up in harm’s way.

Read on for some of the worst and most harrowing theme park ride disasters ever to take place in the UK.

The Miniature Train, Gulliver’s Land – May 10, 2006

Hugh Dow, 56, was doing maintenance on a miniature train at the theme park in Milton Keynes, Bucks, when he was decapitated.

After completing the work he stood up after giving the driver the all-clear to move the train on.

While standing he hit his head on a bridge and suffered massive trauma to his skull and brain before being dragged through the 10-foot-long tunnel.

He died instantly, although his death was labelled as misadventure by an inquest.

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), investigating the death, said: "He was decapitated. There was probably two and a half to three inches between the top of the carriage and the tunnel."

The park closed the next day.

Gulliver’s Land has been approached for comment.

Splash Canyon, Drayton Manor – May 9, 2017

  • Queen's granddaughter to attend Kate and William's university after A-level success

An 11-year-old girl died after she fell from the Splash Canyon water ride near Leicester.

Evha Jannath was on a school trip when she fell out of the raft and into the pool below. Wading back she was dragged under by rapid water, the Sun reported.

Eventually pulled out, she was confirmed dead shortly after she arrived at Birmingham Children’s hospital – making the tragic young girl the first person to die at the UK theme park since 2004.

The cause of death was blunt force chest trauma and an inquest concluded she died accidentally.

Her family said at the time: “Our world was torn apart by the news that our daughter and sister Evha, had lost her life in tragic circumstances.”

The park was fined £1million, but it was reported at the time that the fine wouldn't likely be paid as the park was in administration at the time.

Drayton Manor's current operator, Drayton Manor Resort, was unable to provide comment as the company that ran the park at the time – Drayton Manor Park Limited – no longer exists.

The Smiler, Alton Towers – June 2, 2015

  • Frisky couple caught having sex on Ferris wheel in full view of stunned onlookers

One of the most infamous examples in British theme park disasters – the Smiler accident saw a train full of revellers plough into a stationary set of carriages on the ride after it failed half-way around.

They were going at 20mph when the loaded cars smashed into the empty ones – with five people suffering serious injuries and two having to have legs amputated.

A further 11 riders got away with minor injuries.

Merlin, the company that runs Alton Towers, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.

In a statement to the Daily Star, Merlin said: “Immediately following the incident, the theme park implemented a number of improved safety measures across all multi-car rollercoasters to ensure the safety and security of our guests.

"During the 35-plus years it has been open as a theme park, Alton Towers has delivered over 1 billion rides safely and has welcomed more than 85 million people. The resort delivers over 33 million rides a year.”

The company stressed that its number one priority was safety and made clear its commitment to setting new safety standards, working with experts and providing specialist staff training.

To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.

The Gauntlet, Camelot Theme Park – October 22, 2001

Lancashire’s now-closed Camelot was the scene of a horrific crash that saw a worker killed.

Harry Matthews from Wigan died when he was greasing the tracks of the Gauntlet ride as he was struck by a car carrying three adults and five children.

The company admitted it had failed to make sure the people working for it were not in danger and had no written safety procedures.

The park is now closed and owner Prime Resorts Ltd, which has since been dissolved, said at the time that it deeply regretted the death.

In a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive, the court heard the risk to safety was caused by "fundamental management errors".

In September 2003, the park incurred a fine of £40,000 and was ordered to pay £20,000 in costs.

READ NEXT:

  • Russia and China 'prepared to go further' with AI weapons for WW3 advantage, expert says
  • Russian arms fair shows off chilling robot dog with huge RPG strapped to its back
  • Grandad's doorbell cam captures woman with legs spread outside influencer hotspot home
  • UFO expert tells how 'dark forces were at work' to sabotage Calvine investigation
  • Police raid Chinese man's house after dodgy laptop leads to porn studio bust
  • Alton Towers
  • Theme Parks
  • Exclusives

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post Rhian Sugden left disgruntled as she spots her face on Tenerife strip club sign
Next post Woman who lost job sets up bum-shaped candle business – now shes earned £500k