• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Drayton Manor Park - Splash Canyon Incident

Quick Summery of facts from the pre-lunch updates

Evha was over 1.4m tall
Teachers not required to escort children on rides
Not in the correct seating postion at any point on the ride.
Evha fell in at the end of the ride before the lift back to the station
The water was up to her thigh here
Evha tried to walk up the travelator to the staton
Evha fell into the run off pool of water approximately 12ft deep.
 
Last edited:
A quote from a police detective inspector regarding intervierws with the other children who were on the ride:

“One states they were all moving around the vessel during the ride. They were reaching out of the vessel, putting their hands in the water during the ride.
“Another said they were talking about who could get the wettest and putting their hands in the water.
“A further child states Evha fell head-first. She was on the step and not holding onto the rail when she fell.”

CCTV also shows that at no point was she sitting in her seat properly. Although it appears that it was not falling out of the boat that led to her death but her trying to climb to safety and falling in to a much deeper pool of water by the lift that takes boats back to the station.
 
I suspect the key facts are going to be how visible is it that she was in the water there, and the reaction of the Drayton Manor staff. From personal experience operating a water ride, it's a little scary how many people don't pay attention to the remain seated at all times notices and rules.
 
MattyH said:
I suspect the key facts are going to be how visible is it that she was in the water there, and the reaction of the Drayton Manor staff. From personal experience operating a water ride, it's a little scary how many people don't pay attention to the remain seated at all times notices and rules.
Click to expand...
Also maybe if the operator made any effort to encourage them to sit (PA messages etc) and if that functionality was available to them. If they were stood up for the entire ride the operator presumably should have seen and presumably should have made multiple PA announcements to request them to sit.
 
The bit missing from the above summary is that she died from drowning, not her injuries. It also states that it was unlikely that her injuries would have been enough to kill her.
MattyH said:
I suspect the key facts are going to be how visible is it that she was in the water there, and the reaction of the Drayton Manor staff. From personal experience operating a water ride, it's a little scary how many people don't pay attention to the remain seated at all times notices and rules.
Click to expand...

I therefore suspect that the above is the essential bit. If she was rescued quickly enough then she would have survived.
 
It’s early days but yes, it appears that it’s the slowness of response could well be the problem as far as health and safety is concerned.

It’s certainly harrowing reading so far. Yes she should not have been stood up, but it’s a pretty terrifying thought to end up in that section of the water as an adult, let alone as a child.
 
Seems they could've installed some escape routes along the rides edge (a pool ladder style thing) to avoid the situation of being stuck in the trench unsure how to get out.

The idea of climbing up the lift hill (I assume that's what they mean she tried to do) is quite horrifying. I always think they look pretty slippy for the boats, and with all those moving parts, not ideal.

I don't know the ride very well, but maybe a ladder and instruction to wait here for help (or an emergency phone) would've been a sensible addition. If you are in the situation where you are in the trough, it's not obvious on the best course of action. Wait, and hope a boat isn't heading towards you. Climb up the side, might be too tall for many, and who knows what's on the other side.

It must have been a traumatic experience for all.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The fact that Eva was seen on CCTV stood up along with classmates the whole time is very concerning- if this is the ride CCTV system footage it will be pretty damming as it shows they were not paying attention to the ride safety systems which would have prevented the incident by allowing tannoy messages and a ESTOP if necessary.

Could see the fine being huge if the above is true and they had a tannoy system
 
It's a really tragic incident but ultimately one that was all too predictable. It was bound to happen eventually. I have been in plenty of rafts on various rapids over the years where kids have moved seats mid-ride to avoid huge waves or maybe a wasp etc. I get angry every time and have even spoke out a few times when it was particularly bad.

I don't see this ending well for the park though regardless of whether the child ignored signs/rules.
 
Doublethink said:
The fact that Eva was seen on CCTV stood up along with classmates the whole time is very concerning- if this is the ride CCTV system footage it will be pretty damming as it shows they were not paying attention to the ride safety systems which would have prevented the incident by allowing tannoy messages and a ESTOP if necessary.

Could see the fine being huge if the above is true and they had a tannoy system
Click to expand...
Even if the e-stop was activated it would've taken a while for the water to drain.
 
Benjsh said:
It's a really tragic incident but ultimately one that was all too predictable. It was bound to happen eventually. I have been in plenty of rafts on various rapids over the years where kids have moved seats mid-ride to avoid huge waves or maybe a wasp etc. I get angry every time and have even spoke out a few times when it was particularly bad.

I don't see this ending well for the park though regardless of whether the child ignored signs/rules.
Click to expand...

From today's inquest, it appears that this was more than simply kids changing seats or standing up to avoid a wave. These kids were apparently hanging over the edge with their hands in the water, it appears that they wanted to see who could get the wettest.

I wonder who will be at fault here? Who was responsible for the safety of the kids? The school teachers or the park? I hope it's the former
 
Lurker said:
What is the deep pool that she fell into?

Is it the resovoir for the ride, where water is pumped from?
Click to expand...
I assume it was the drainage sump she fell into at the end but she was up and moving by that point. Ironically she could stand up in the water where she first fell so if she had stood still she would have survived
 
rob666 said:
Eleven minutes in the water???
Click to expand...

I have since read it was actually 11 minutes from the staff being made aware until she was located, and then a further 6 minutes before they got her out the water.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/en...or-theme-park-rid_uk_5dbff260e4b03d0aacfc4fca

Lurker said:
What is the deep pool that she fell into?

Is it the resovoir for the ride, where water is pumped from?
Click to expand...

Yes, underneath the lift hill at the end of the ride before it is pumped back up to the start.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top