Incident on The Smiler 02/06/2015

[Jem8472]

its how she interviews everybody, cant see why you lot are surprised.

Probably because we don't watch Sky "news"

 

[spinba11]

SAW does have an awfully high number of trains though? Not sure exactly how many but I'm sure it's more than 5? Never been, probably wrong

It has 8 in total.

 

[Khanage]

Not impressed with the interviewer. NV held himself well though. I think Merlin are doing the right thing.

 

[Yalnix]

SAW does have an awfully high number of trains though? Not sure exactly how many but I'm sure it's more than 5? Never been, probably wrong

You could be right, my think was that The Smiler is a MUCH more complicated ride

I do just think however there is too much speculation. I propose we sit back for a couple of days, take it all in and the hopefully find out from official sources and not the f**king tabloids (Extending to the BBC and Sky news too. I don't trust any of them)

 

[Leah]

Video of the Sky interview can be found here for anyone who missed it:

https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/606822303112962048

That is the worst interview I've ever seen!
In an interview you need to let the interviewee talk and understand that if you keep asking the same question (so these rides whent safe before) you will get the same answer. Asking him to talk about the injures people was horrible. Was he ment to say... NO! And repeatedly saying that the ride is being torn down as they speak at the same time as they are getting live pictures is just...

Just a great example of how far the media are taking it only the other networks are more subtle.
Nick varney took it really well. I wouldn't be able to stay calm.

 

[Jackson Huxtable]

Really surprised it's closed tomorrow. Thought it would open for the weekend. Sorry if this is obvious but I have some questions:

1)if it is human error, will the smiler be open faster than if it's technical?
2)does anyone have any idea when x-sector /oblivion/enterprise/fried chicken will open?
3)when the park opens is it likely other coasters are open like nemesis?
4)is the park likely to be open by next Thursday?

I know that no one might know the answer to some of these but I'd like to know

1. Probably
2. Maybe within a few weeks/ a month?
3. Likely
4. Almost certainly

 

[EmilyJEG]

As I'm sat on it.

Thanks for replying

I know everyone has moved on from the anonymous interview with The Mirror, but I was trying to work out how the person could have seen the stalled car and the face of another passenger covered in blood (I assume the person at the side of the front row). If they were sitting to the right of the ride as you describe, the person on the front row could have turned to his partner, and 'anon' saw him then.

He also refers to a cherry picker, whereas reports from emergency workers discuss 'lowering' the injured riders, which isn't a word I'd use to describe the action of a cherry picker, but again, I could be wrong.

On here, many people have talked about the ride being stopped for ten minutes or so prior to the accident, and yet there's no mention of that in his account.

He also states that he 'doesn't remember much' but then felt able to travel home for three hours on a train, and that he hasn't been offered a refund - a refund for what? His "free tickets"?

I know I've mentioned the picture already, but try Googling "bruised ribs"...

I'm almost certain this person is taking the p*** - I hope they didn't pay him (if he even exists). It's disgusting that someone would think this was appropriate given the circumstances.

 

[Jem8472]

Don't forget that there is always this form

https://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/webflow/broadcast-complaints/

 

[Rick]

Kay Burley is painful. NV was an absolute pro.

 

[Yalnix]

Don't forget that there is always this form

https://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/webflow/broadcast-complaints/

Filling it is actually a good idea, Ofcom do accept complaints on "fairness." Its going to do more good than being angry on twitter!

 

[Dar]

I wonder if they're implementing a full lock-out whenever maintenance are working on a ride, including clearing the queue?

 

[bluesonichd]

Some of the reasons given on the petition to close the Smiler... Priceless

"i what the smiler to close down"
--- Well I guess thats as good a reason as any... Shut it down!!!! ps learn to spell, its want... just saying

"It's a death trap needs pulling back down!!!"
---Well, been open 2 years, 18 Months of ride time, 540 Days, 4320 Hours X 1000 riders an hour so 4.32 Million people
its a bloody death trap I agree

 

[TomLad]

"It's a death trap needs pulling back down!!!"
---Well, been open 2 years, 18 Months of ride time, 540 Days, 4320 Hours X 1000 riders an hour so 4.32 Million people
its a bloody death trap I agree

You forgot to include all of the deaths that have happened in your statistic

 

[James]

Just caught up with the interview and I have no words to say about Kay, well no words that will get past the swear filter at least.

What a very rude woman. She's a disgrace. Honestly cannot believe someone can get away with speaking in such a rude manner towards someone else. Made my blood boil watching that interview, disgusting woman.

Well done to Varney for staying so calm with that, came across really well.

 

[spinba11]

Whoever says 16 people getting hurt out of 4.32 million is bad needs a good slap, apart from if a family member of someone who got hurt said it.

 

[Rose Of Dawn]

Whoever says 16 people getting hurt out of 4.32 million is bad needs a good slap, apart from if a family member of someone who got hurt said it.

Statistically it's almost insignificant, but considering nobody should be injured going on rollercoasters it's still bad.

 

[Rick]

Statistically it's almost insignificant, but considering nobody should be injured going on rollercoasters it's still bad.

I think it's very dangerous to label anything 'statistically insignificant' when there are people in hospital, barely out of college potentially losing their limbs.

I understand the logic but it's pretty insensitive, I think. It almost dismisses the severity of the accident.

 

[Yalnix]

Whoever says 16 people getting hurt out of 4.32 million is bad needs a good slap, apart from if a family member of someone who got hurt said it.

Wait.. what?

 

[Rose Of Dawn]

I think it's very dangerous to label anything 'statistically insignificant' when there are people in hospital, barely out of college potentially losing their limbs.

Except I didn't say that. I said it was "almost insignificant", because it's a tiny percentage. I followed it up by saying "it's still bad".

Please don't take my comment out of context, particularly when said comment is directly above yours.

 

[PeteA]

Re the interview, she latched onto something what Mr Varney said and she was like a pitbull refusing to let go.

What I was surprised at, was Mr Varney not mentioning the stringent daily safety checks that are performed by the maintenance teams each day which sees them arrive at daft o'clock. How, if anything doesn't pass these checklists, then the ride doesnt get opened until tech services are 100% happy. How, each close season everything is stripped back, track tested, trains stripped. How there are independent checks made each year like an MOT (ADIPS). I haven't heard him mention this at all in any of his interviews.

If you look at it away from our hobby, he didn't really clarify what happens. All he said was that procedures were in place and they had added an extra layer, kind of indicating that there were failings.

We all know, or at least have a basic understanding, of what goes on before a ride is opened, and how safe our hobby is, but for others who are not aware, he didn't really give reassurances. So in a way, and I am not on the side of that terrible interviewer, you can see why, because of his answers she something wouldn't let it go.

He should have talked about the daily checks, what happens when a ride breaksdown etc

Just my thoughts....