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M&D's rollercoaster crash: Two children in 'serious' condition | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two boys who were among nine people injured in a rollercoaster crash at a North Lanarkshire theme park on Sunday remain in a serious condition. | |
The ride derailed at M&D's, on the Motherwell side of Strathclyde Park. | |
Two boys remain in a serious condition - a 12-year-old has chest, abdominal and leg injuries and an 11-year-old suffered serious arm and hand injuries. | |
Four other boys, a 14-year-old girl and a 19-year-old man, are all stable in hospital, police said. | |
A 19-year-old woman was released after treatment. | |
'Serious incident' | |
Det Insp John Malcolm said police wanted to speak to anyone who had witnessed the crash at 15:37 BST on Sunday. | |
"This is a really serious incident that has affected many people visiting the theme park and our thoughts go out to those who have been injured," he said. | |
"We have now launched a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and our priority is to find out the cause of the incident. | |
"I would ask that anyone who witnessed the incident or indeed, anyone who may have video footage or photographs to get in touch with the dedicated inquiry team." | |
Police said the crash happened after five gondolas on the Tsunami inverted rollercoaster detached from their rails at a bend and fell to the ground. | |
There were nine passengers on board - two 19-year-olds and seven children. | |
A total of 10 people were taken to hospital in the aftermath of the crash. | |
A 25-year-old woman who was passing-by was found not to be injured and was released from Wishaw General Hospital following an assessment. | |
A 19-year-old woman who was treated for a wrist injury has been released. | |
Three other children remain in a stable condition at Wishaw - a 14-year-old girl who suffered chest injuries, an 11-year-old boy who was kept in for observation and a 16-year-old boy who was treated for an injury to his arm. | |
The other casualties are being treated at two hospital in Glasgow. | |
Four boys, two of whom are aged 11, one aged 12 and one aged 13, are being treated at the Royal Hospital for Children. | |
In addition to the two who are in a serious condition, an 11-year-old, who suffered leg and head injuries, is stable, and a 13-year-old is being monitored. | |
Investigation begins | |
The 19-year-old man is being treated for a knee injury at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and is also stable. | |
HSE principal inspector Barry Baker said a joint investigation with police was now under way. | |
"Our thoughts are with the children and adults who have been injured in this incident and I must give praise to the emergency services and members of the public who came to their aid so quickly yesterday," he said. | |
"We have brought HSE specialists in mechanical engineering to the site this morning, to begin the process of finding out what caused the gondolas to come off the rails. | |
"HSE will work very closely with colleagues in the police as the investigation unfolds." | |
M&D's revealed that the Tsunami ride had been closed on Saturday due to a minor electrical fault but said it was fully operational when the park opened on Sunday. | |
M&D's 'devastated' | |
The park's director, Douglas Taylor, said: "Each and every ride within the theme park is safety checked on a daily basis and undergoes a thorough independent inspection every 12 months. | |
"My brother Matthew and I have been in business together for 50 years and this is the first incident of this type that we have ever been involved in. | |
"We are devastated as both a family and a business, and our heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by this accident." | |
Mr Taylor paid tribute to the emergency services and members of the public who had helped in the aftermath of the crash. | |
He added: "Our thoughts are with the people who have been injured and their families. We hope everyone makes a full recovery. | |
"We are cooperating fully with the joint HSE and Police Scotland investigation. | |
"It would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the accident until the investigation is complete." | |
It is not the first time the park has experienced problems with its rides, including the Tsunami. | |
Nine passengers, including children, were stranded for eight hours on the ride in July 2011 when it came to a halt 60ft (18.2m) above the ground. The malfunction was blamed on a broken lift chain. | Nine passengers, including children, were stranded for eight hours on the ride in July 2011 when it came to a halt 60ft (18.2m) above the ground. The malfunction was blamed on a broken lift chain. |
In March, eight people had to be rescued by firefighters when the park's Tornado rollercoaster ground to a halt 20 ft (6m) in the air. | In March, eight people had to be rescued by firefighters when the park's Tornado rollercoaster ground to a halt 20 ft (6m) in the air. |