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Porthcawl's Coney Beach Pleasure Park accident sees 13 children injured on ride | Porthcawl's Coney Beach Pleasure Park accident sees 13 children injured on ride |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Rebecca Eccleston says people were "screaming" after the Wacky Worm ride malfunctioned | |
Thirteen children and one adult received minor injuries after a cart on a pleasure park ride derailed. | |
It happened on Coney Beach's Wacky Worm, in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, which is described as a "small introductory roller coaster" on its website. | It happened on Coney Beach's Wacky Worm, in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, which is described as a "small introductory roller coaster" on its website. |
One mother said a metal railing fell on to her son's pram while she heard children "screaming" and "crying out" after a cart on the ride left the track on Wednesday evening. | One mother said a metal railing fell on to her son's pram while she heard children "screaming" and "crying out" after a cart on the ride left the track on Wednesday evening. |
In a statement, Coney Beach Pleasure Park said it was instructed by police to clear the site after the incident on a "third-party ride" not owned by the park. | In a statement, Coney Beach Pleasure Park said it was instructed by police to clear the site after the incident on a "third-party ride" not owned by the park. |
Rebecca Eccleston, 22, from Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, was at the amusement park with her son and a big group of friends when the incident happened. | |
"It was all fine and the kids were enjoying themselves then all of a sudden there was a massive bang," she said. | |
"I turned and the metal railing had fallen on to my right shoulder and my pram." | |
She described how a car at the back of the ride had "derailed itself completely", with children screaming, and her one-year-old son narrowly avoiding serious injury. | |
Rebecca Eccleston and her son Theo were very close to the ride when the accident happened | |
The pleasure park dates back to 1918, but is set to close in October, with homes, shops and restaurants built on the waterfront in a redevelopment. | The pleasure park dates back to 1918, but is set to close in October, with homes, shops and restaurants built on the waterfront in a redevelopment. |
Footage on social media appears to show adults helping a number of children off the ride. | Footage on social media appears to show adults helping a number of children off the ride. |
South Wales Police advised the public to avoid the area and said officers were called to the amusement park at about 17:50 BST following an accident on one of the rides. | South Wales Police advised the public to avoid the area and said officers were called to the amusement park at about 17:50 BST following an accident on one of the rides. |
Seven patients were taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment. | Seven patients were taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment. |
The amusement park will remain closed on Thursday while officers and health and safety personnel carry out their investigation. | |
Seven people were taken to hospital after an accident at the Coney Beach Pleasure Park | Seven people were taken to hospital after an accident at the Coney Beach Pleasure Park |
Ms Eccleston's one-year-old son Theo, who was in the pram, luckily came out of the incident with only a few bruises. | Ms Eccleston's one-year-old son Theo, who was in the pram, luckily came out of the incident with only a few bruises. |
"If it wasn't for my mate it would've been a totally different story because the metal railing was on top of my pram," she said. | |
"She stopped the impact with her shoulder." | |
Ms Eccleston said she saw children "screaming" and "crying out", adding: "One car at the back of the ride had derailed itself completely. | |
"No-one could get out and obviously my mate's partner ran straight away to go and get the kids." | "No-one could get out and obviously my mate's partner ran straight away to go and get the kids." |
Seven people were taken to hospital after an accident at the Coney Beach Pleasure Park | |
She told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast: "It all happened so fast. | |
"My son Theo is completely shaken up. He's got a massive lump on his head. | |
"It was horrendous. All you could hear was the screams of the children." | |
Ms Eccleston said one child had to be rushed to hospital because he "lost his teeth on the bars" of the Wacky Worm ride. | |
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said paramedics, ambulances and a hazardous area response team were sent to the scene. | A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said paramedics, ambulances and a hazardous area response team were sent to the scene. |
The park apologised for the disruption and said it will provide refunds to affected customers as soon as possible. | The park apologised for the disruption and said it will provide refunds to affected customers as soon as possible. |