A child was rushed to hospital after reportedly falling from a ride at Lightwater Valley today (Thursday, 30 May).
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance went to the theme park near Ripon and took the child to Leeds General Infirmary.
Simon Moran, who was visiting the park, tweeted: ‘Just saw a kid fall off the Twister rollercoaster at Lightwater Valley. Ride shut down. Ambulance called’.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:
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Police were called to reports of a medical incident involving a child at Lightwater Valley theme park near Ripon at 11.30am today.
The child, a 6-year-old boy, who was conscious when officers arrived at the scene, has been taken to hospital. His condition is not believed to be life threatening.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been notified.
Officers remain at the scene.
The extent of the child’s injuries are not yet known.
Lara-Susan James, who had just joined the queue for the rollercoaster with her children, said a group were shouting at the operator to stop the ride. She said:
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It was at that moment I realised something was wrong. I saw the operator apply the emergency stop.
My husband pointed to the fallen kid on the ground, saying they had fallen out. When the ride stopped, the family jumped the barriers and went to the kid.
I ushered our kids away as I don’t want them to hear or see any more.
Mark Charnley, who was queuing for the Twister with his 10-year-old daughter while enjoying a half-term break, said he looked up to see the boy “hanging backwards outside of the actual carriage”.
He told Sky News:
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He’s obviously got himself out of his restraint somehow.
Two seconds after that he actually fell out of the carriage to the floor, maybe around 12-15 foot he fell.
After that everybody in the queue, everybody around, started shouting to the operator of the ride to shut it down as he hadn’t noticed what had gone on.
Two guys dove over the actual barriers to get to the lad who was on the floor.
After that I got out of there with my daughter. I’m quite surprised they did leave the actual park open to be honest with you.
I would’ve thought they would have closed it down.
A spokeswoman for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “I can confirm that we attended and transported a child to Leeds General Infirmary”.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they attended the incident but could not provide any further detail.
Park still open
The Twister is described as a “spinning rollercoaster” which “gives an awesome, fun-packed experience for all the family”.
“The track is full of seriously tight turns, giving riders the impression that they might not make it around the next corner, with the threat of plummeting into the treetops being a constant source of tension for parents (and amusement for the kids)!” the Lightwater Valley websites says.
Riders must be taller than 4ft 11in (1.5m) unaccompanied or more than 4ft (1.2m) if accompanied by an adult, it adds.
A statement from Lightwater Valley said:
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We can confirm that following an incident on one of our rides this morning, a child is receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Emergency services have confirmed the child was conscious when they arrived at the scene and his condition is not believed to be life threatening.
The ride remains closed at the current time but the rest of the park is still open.