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Lightwater Valley theme park: Boy, 6, airlifted to hospital Lightwater Valley theme park: Boy, 6, 'falls from rollercoaster'
(about 2 hours later)
A six-year-old boy has been airlifted to hospital after witnesses said he fell from a theme park ride.A six-year-old boy has been airlifted to hospital after witnesses said he fell from a theme park ride.
The boy is believed to have fallen from the Twister rollercoaster at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, in North Yorkshire.The boy is believed to have fallen from the Twister rollercoaster at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, in North Yorkshire.
He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary. Police said his condition was not believed to be life-threatening. Witnesses reported hearing screams and seeing the boy "hanging backwards" from the carriage.
Lightwater Valley said the ride involved was closed but the rest of the park remained open. Police said his condition was not believed to be life-threatening, and the park said the ride was closed and health and safety experts were on site.
North Yorkshire Police said it was called to reports of a "medical incident" at 11:30 BST. Officers remain at the scene. It added: "We take the health and safety of our visitors very seriously and are committed to providing support to the affected family.
Lara-Susan James, who was in the queue for the Twister ride, said: "We could hear a girl screaming, and I mean screaming. "We will continue working closely with the Health and Safety Executive and emergency services."
North Yorkshire Police said it was called to reports of a "medical incident" at 11:30 BST and the boy was being treated in Leeds General Infirmary.
Lara-Susan James, who was in the queue for the Twister, said: "We could hear a girl screaming, and I mean screaming.
"I thought she was just scared of being on the ride, but she was hysterical. They were part of a bigger party of people visiting the park, and they were on the ground just ahead of us.""I thought she was just scared of being on the ride, but she was hysterical. They were part of a bigger party of people visiting the park, and they were on the ground just ahead of us."
She added: "They started shouting to the operator to stop the ride. It was at that moment I realised something was wrong.She added: "They started shouting to the operator to stop the ride. It was at that moment I realised something was wrong.
"I saw the operator apply the emergency stop and my husband pointed to the fallen kid on the ground saying they had fallen out.""I saw the operator apply the emergency stop and my husband pointed to the fallen kid on the ground saying they had fallen out."
The Health and Safety Executive said it was "aware of the incident" and was making initial inquiries. Mark Charnley, another guest at the park, said the boy was "hanging backwards outside the actual carriage".
Lightwater Valley said in a statement: "We can confirm that following an incident on one of our rides this morning, a child is receiving treatment at a local hospital. "Everybody started shouting to get the attention of the guy running the machine," he added.
"Emergency services have confirmed the child was conscious when they arrived at the scene and his condition is not believed to be life-threatening." In June 2001, 20-year-old Gemma Savage died when two cars collided on the same ride at the park.
In June 2001, 20-year-old Gemma Savage died after two cars collided on the same ride at the park. Miss Savage, from Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, was on a day out with friends from Durham University, where she was studying medical sciences, when the accident happened.
Miss Savage, from Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, was on a day out with friends from Durham University, where she was studying, medical sciences, when the accident happened.
The theme park's owner, the manufacturers of the ride and an electrician were all later fined for health and safety breaches.The theme park's owner, the manufacturers of the ride and an electrician were all later fined for health and safety breaches.
According to the theme park's website, Lightwater Valley started life as a pig farm located approximately five miles from Ripon.According to the theme park's website, Lightwater Valley started life as a pig farm located approximately five miles from Ripon.
The park as it is known today was born after the purchase and creation of the Rat Rollercoaster in 1987, which at the time became the world's first and only subterranean rollercoaster.The park as it is known today was born after the purchase and creation of the Rat Rollercoaster in 1987, which at the time became the world's first and only subterranean rollercoaster.
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