So let’s take out the “H+S gone mad” angle and look at it from a purely publicity point of view for Merlin as a whole. Let’s image Sky News contact Merlin for comment:
Sky News - “Hi there Merlin, we’re looking for comment regarding the incident at Drayton Manor, we understand you have rides of the same type?”
Merlin - “We can assure you our rapids rides are completely safe, and have not had a major incident in the many years they have been operating”
Sky News - “But Drayton Manor’s ride had not had an incident, and as we don’t know the facts surrounding the incident, how can you be so sure that rides you operate of the same type are completely safe?”
Merlin - “Errrrm….”
Or alternatively, they do what they have done….
Sky News - “Hi there Merlin, we’re looking for comment regarding the incident at Drayton Manor, we understand you have rides of the same type?”
Merlin - “We can assure you our rapids rides are completely safe, and have not had a major incident in the many years they’ve been operating. That said, safety of our guests is completely paramount, and for this reason we have chosen to temporarily close our rapids rides across the group whilst the circumstances of the terrible incident at Drayton Manor can be established”
To me, the latter seems much more reassuring than the first, and prevents the press biting for a headline!