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Drayton Manor Park - Splash Canyon Incident
- Thread starter Towerslover
- Start date
Andrew
TS Contributor
I'm so so sorry for all that have been affected by this. Nobody should ever go on a day out for fun and never return... My thoughts are with the young girl's family and friends, the workers at the park and the emergency services, and the park visitors that were sadly witness to this tragedy.
The tabloid papers, nonetheless, are a disgrace as per. They show no sympathy, no compassion and not even the slightest amount of care for the girl's family who have to go through this awful ordeal. They don't care about the privacy of people if they can sell a story. Papers like the Mail (leading with that headline), the Mirror (who focussed on the girl's religion like it actually mattered to this!), and the Sun (who, no doubt, would write a scummy story as per) should be ashamed. They're disgusting publications.
The tabloid papers, nonetheless, are a disgrace as per. They show no sympathy, no compassion and not even the slightest amount of care for the girl's family who have to go through this awful ordeal. They don't care about the privacy of people if they can sell a story. Papers like the Mail (leading with that headline), the Mirror (who focussed on the girl's religion like it actually mattered to this!), and the Sun (who, no doubt, would write a scummy story as per) should be ashamed. They're disgusting publications.
Jeez, ok maybe I made a comment in haste yesterday without thinking it through properly (maybe because the rapids rides are generally one of the safest rides in any park) - BUT - in no way did I expect to wake up and hear the news that this girl has died. Totally and utterly shocked, and cant even begin to imagine the grief her parents must now be going through.
All I can think is that she must have been stood up and it hit one of those spinning wheels along the edges - which can really give the boat a jolt - what horrible news
All I can think is that she must have been stood up and it hit one of those spinning wheels along the edges - which can really give the boat a jolt - what horrible news
Skyscraper
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
According to friends, she fell off when standing up to change seats and was sucked under by the rapids.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...r-theme-park-accident-Splash-Canyon-ride.html
I don't like it when i see people stood up on rapids rides, and this is why.
Rest In Peace, Evha
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...r-theme-park-accident-Splash-Canyon-ride.html
I don't like it when i see people stood up on rapids rides, and this is why.
Rest In Peace, Evha
James
TS Founding Member
To be fair, most of us on here would have have stood up to change seats on a Rapids Ride at some point in our theme park lives. I know I have, and never do you think you're putting yourself at risk.
Standing up throughout the ride is entirely different.
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Standing up throughout the ride is entirely different.
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Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I noticed this. The mother has stated that her son was "sort of stood up" for a photo but because kids are exciteable they do not listen to the safety annoucements. Unsure what her excuse was in that case mind, you'd have thought she may have told her son to sit down.
Obviously my above comments relate to the 2013 incident and not yesterday's where far less facts are known right now.
I noticed this. The mother has stated that her son was "sort of stood up" for a photo but because kids are exciteable they do not listen to the safety annoucements. Unsure what her excuse was in that case mind, you'd have thought she may have told her son to sit down.
Obviously my above comments relate to the 2013 incident and not yesterday's where far less facts are known right now.
She wasn't on the ride, it says in the original article she was spectating by the photo point and he stood up for the photo, someone else jumped the fence next to her and dragged him out the water.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Ah fair enough, the text in the article does not say that however I now see that she said that during the interview.
DiogoJ42
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Metropolitan Line
It is true that most of us have leaned out of the way of a wave on a rapids before, but standing up to "change seats" mid ride? No.
We all now have a duty to make sure we point out this was caused by stupidity whenever this topic comes up at work (the inevitable "you like themeparks, have you heard about...." conversations we all have to put up with). The public need to know that the ride itself was not at fault, and this accident is on a par with some kid running across the train tracks rather than using a footbridge: Unfortunate, but entirely self-inflicted.
We all now have a duty to make sure we point out this was caused by stupidity whenever this topic comes up at work (the inevitable "you like themeparks, have you heard about...." conversations we all have to put up with). The public need to know that the ride itself was not at fault, and this accident is on a par with some kid running across the train tracks rather than using a footbridge: Unfortunate, but entirely self-inflicted.
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This is a truly horrific accident and that's it it's horrible about what's happened but in the long run I do feel for the park, they ain't got the big buckets of money like Merlin they are a family owned/run Park so In a sense even if they are found to have no part in the accident I do believe there will be an amount of people who won't come anymore and you will have the daily mail brigade shouting from the high heavens it's a death trap and every child will die here etc etc. I guess after when it's all said and done it's time to support the park as much as possible on this tough time, in regards to the ride I doubt it will open for a while but I really doubt they will add seat belts they will most likely raise the height or age limit and you won't be able to ride without an adult but you still goto follow rules this is a prime example if you don't follow the rules then something bad happens when it says stay seated at all times that don't mean half way through the ride to get up and change seats
Anyway I've rambled on enough sorry about it being quite lengthy just wanted to get it off my chest
Anyway I've rambled on enough sorry about it being quite lengthy just wanted to get it off my chest
Vicky
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Oblivion
From everything so far it seems like this is a very unfortunate accident. I feel people are being too fast to condemn a young child. Yes, her actions had a dire consequence but ultimately, she was a young girl, excited to be on a day out with her friends. Who of us can say we've never shifted in a seat or moved to dodge a wave on a rapids?
Thankfully it seems like most of the GP are recognising that the park aren't at fault here. Hopefully DM won't suffer too badly from this, they've put all their eggs in the family basket, who they really can't afford to lose.
I can see the height limit for riding unaccompanied being raised, with more announcements about staying seated. There isnt't a lot the park can do, other than just add more information about staying seated.
Thankfully it seems like most of the GP are recognising that the park aren't at fault here. Hopefully DM won't suffer too badly from this, they've put all their eggs in the family basket, who they really can't afford to lose.
I can see the height limit for riding unaccompanied being raised, with more announcements about staying seated. There isnt't a lot the park can do, other than just add more information about staying seated.
dazza4783
TS Member
According to friends, she fell off when standing up to change seats and was sucked under by the rapids.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...r-theme-park-accident-Splash-Canyon-ride.html
I don't like it when i see people stood up on rapids rides, and this is why.
Rest In Peace, Evha
Terrible news, even if she did stand up, it's always awful reading about this sort of thing happening on things we love doing.
I do think it is strange in the article though in the part about other accidents at UK parks that they started straight off with the Smiler accident. I mean, they mention about when people were stuck on Tsunami at M&D's for 8 hours but didn't think last year's accident when it derailed and crash landed on a kiddie attraction was worth mentioning.
Just pure speculation here and i'm not sure where the accident happened exactly, but, i'm wondering if there is a possibility when she fell in and IF she was wearing a headscarf if it got caught up in something, such as those rotating barrels or something else, and in turn it dragged her under?
Not sure what the park and other parks can do about this. I know Oakwood installed OTSR on Hydro, which, to be fair it did need as I recall going on it prior to the accident with just a lapbar. Cant see these restraints working on such a ride however, whereas Hydro is completely different. Seatbelts also wouldnt work as they could be removed during the ride. Some sort of safety barrier around the on/off points of the boats perhaps which can be closed and locked by ride staff. Cant see someone falling out of the boat at any other point due to the seats being so high.....
Not sure what the park and other parks can do about this. I know Oakwood installed OTSR on Hydro, which, to be fair it did need as I recall going on it prior to the accident with just a lapbar. Cant see these restraints working on such a ride however, whereas Hydro is completely different. Seatbelts also wouldnt work as they could be removed during the ride. Some sort of safety barrier around the on/off points of the boats perhaps which can be closed and locked by ride staff. Cant see someone falling out of the boat at any other point due to the seats being so high.....