Reading back, I think too much onus is being placed on the fact the ride stalled. A lot of rollercoasters can, and have, stalled - Smiler certainly isn't alone in that respect. Yes, there absolutely should have been wind monitoring equipment the moment the ride first stalled, but the stall was the never the issue - everything that happened after it was.
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The Smiler Incident - What Happened
- Thread starter Rob
- Start date
No, a member of public could have made the call instead of videoing the incident on their camera phones
Instead, a lot of them just recorded and then passed the footage onto the press.
Exactly my point, I think the press and social media was promptly alerted of the crash and the emergency services was last to be informed...
Roy
James
TS Founding Member
It was discussed ages ago that a business on the scale of Towers will have certain procedures in place before alerting the emergency services. So any Tom, Dick or Harry can't just pick up the phone and be taken seriously. It will have to be done straight through Alton Towers security or senior managers.
Also while the stall was a part of what happened, it wasn't the cause. The Smiler stalled several times in 2013 before and during it's first few months of operating. Stalling was a known issue. Regardless of that, there should be procedures in place that cover rare instances such as that.
Also while the stall was a part of what happened, it wasn't the cause. The Smiler stalled several times in 2013 before and during it's first few months of operating. Stalling was a known issue. Regardless of that, there should be procedures in place that cover rare instances such as that.
It was a major crash. Surely the priority would to be get the ambulances on the way and then get the certain procedures in place while the ambulances are on their way. It a bit like saying that if you are involved in an car accident and no one can alert the emergency services until the local council gets all the appropriate procedures in place.
Even though you have to pay to enter the park, it is still class as a public place, the emergency services will always prefer loads of people dialling 999 to alert of an emergency as oppose to no one making that essential call.
delta79
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis, Air
Most large companies with its own medical teams have a standard first aid system.
Own medical team called, they assess then contact external additional support. E.g. ambulance service. Giving clear information including RV point.
The coordination of medical assistance would be done by medical manager. This would include alerting security that a ambulance is on route and where to guide it to.
Own medical team called, they assess then contact external additional support. E.g. ambulance service. Giving clear information including RV point.
The coordination of medical assistance would be done by medical manager. This would include alerting security that a ambulance is on route and where to guide it to.
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Coaster
TS Member
People were trapped and seriously injured on the ride; getting an ambulance on the way as quick as possible was the most important thing.
Matt.GC
TS Member
There is NO excuse for not calling 999 right away. Perhaps a member of the public could potentially say that they assumed Park staff/someone else must have called, but trained first responders or not, a roller coaster crash is a 999 emergency.
I've called emergency services myself many times at work and so have customers for the same thing. They always treat every call seriously at first and within seconds of briefly ascertaining the issue, they've despatched the nearest available unit. This is regardless of who calls and they normally keep you on the line until a unit arrives to get as much info as they can.
If anyone had just dialled that number quicker, the air ambulance would have been there earlier and this could well have been the difference between life and death.
I personally feel horrified and disgusted that so many people had a device in their hands capable of calling 999, but instead pressed the camera button and used it to film the carnage instead. It's absolutely shameful and I struggle to understand the mentality behind it.
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
I've called emergency services myself many times at work and so have customers for the same thing. They always treat every call seriously at first and within seconds of briefly ascertaining the issue, they've despatched the nearest available unit. This is regardless of who calls and they normally keep you on the line until a unit arrives to get as much info as they can.
If anyone had just dialled that number quicker, the air ambulance would have been there earlier and this could well have been the difference between life and death.
I personally feel horrified and disgusted that so many people had a device in their hands capable of calling 999, but instead pressed the camera button and used it to film the carnage instead. It's absolutely shameful and I struggle to understand the mentality behind it.
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Dar
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
I don't think a 999 operator is necessarily going to believe a member of the public saying a roller coaster has stalled and crashed, I think they'd rather wait for official confirmation from the park that something has gone wrong that needs emergency attention.
I'd imagine that the full extent of the damage wasn't immediately apparent given the view of that particular bit of track from the outside.
I'd imagine that the full extent of the damage wasn't immediately apparent given the view of that particular bit of track from the outside.
Exactly - I could not have put it better myself
Benzin
TS Member
Any member of staff who saw the crash with a sense of logic would have immediately contacted Control to get emergency services in asap... Wouldn't need on site first aiders (who I'm sure aren't exactly trained for say, crushed limbs) to assess the situation to tell you urgent help would be required...
Emergency services would be more likely to dispatch to the park calling than a regular guest though, just because hoaxes can happen...
Emergency services would be more likely to dispatch to the park calling than a regular guest though, just because hoaxes can happen...
Towerslover
TS Member
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The emergency services should respond even if they suspect it's a hoax. Supsecting isn't good enough. People could have died or ended up with worse injuries
delta79
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis, Air
i am not going to debate 18 min gap, as it is too long for a incident of this type.
I can not get my head around why no member of the public called 999 and video it instead. I understand guests not doing anything calling or filming due to emotional confusion.
I see the moment after the crash in a different way. People here talk about confused 999 calls, i have made many and trained in advanced first aid and passing information to ambulance control.
Towerslover
TS Member
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Alton Towers have really messed up, they should learn there lessons from this. But they shouldn't have had to be taught a lesson by people loosing limbs. Basic procedures should have been followed.
James
TS Founding Member
It's easy enough to say anyone could have rang 999 and the air ambulance would have arrived quicker, although an air ambulance wouldn't be deployed until the emergency services understood the full scale of the incident. When it comes to calling the emergency services, they need as much detail as possible to prompt the correct response. This is where Alton Towers medical team and security comes in, they assess the situation, gather as much information as possible and contact the emergency services so there is the right response.
I'd assume the emergency services have an agreement with Towers on what to do with incidents like this anyway, so calls from the public would be taken at caution. Although all the emergency services would do with a phone call from old Joe on his day out phoning about two ride trains crashing is send a first responder. They wouldn't immediately send 2 ambulances, a helicopter, fire services and the police - which is what most people in here seem to think what would happen.
Was 17 minutes too long? It does sound like a long time given the severity of the crash, but then it's all still a little vague so I'm on the fence. There are no details about the steps between the crash and the alerting of the emergency services so it's hard to judge what was right or wrong. Also, we do not really know whether no one rang 999, maybe someone did.
I'd assume the emergency services have an agreement with Towers on what to do with incidents like this anyway, so calls from the public would be taken at caution. Although all the emergency services would do with a phone call from old Joe on his day out phoning about two ride trains crashing is send a first responder. They wouldn't immediately send 2 ambulances, a helicopter, fire services and the police - which is what most people in here seem to think what would happen.
Was 17 minutes too long? It does sound like a long time given the severity of the crash, but then it's all still a little vague so I'm on the fence. There are no details about the steps between the crash and the alerting of the emergency services so it's hard to judge what was right or wrong. Also, we do not really know whether no one rang 999, maybe someone did.