The chief executive of Lightwater Valley theme park has issued a public apology to the family of a seven-year-old boy who was seriously injured in a fall from the Twister rollercoaster. Ian Cunningham said on Monday that everyone at the park near Ripon, North Yorkshire, was completely focused on the welfare of the child, whose condition is said to be improving after he fell about five metres on Thursday.
In his first public statement since the incident, Cunningham said: 'Everyone at Lightwater Valley theme park is very pleased to hear that the condition of the young boy who fell from our Twister ride last Thursday is improving. As a father myself, I can imagine only too well how it must have felt for everyone involved when the incident happened, and in the hours since.' He added: 'I would like to say how sorry I am personally for the upset and anxiety that this incident has caused. We are committed to offering our full support to the family.'
The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred as the park was busy with families during half-term. Witnesses reported seeing the boy hanging backwards outside one of the Twister’s waltzer-shaped carriages before he fell. There were screams from onlookers as the ride continued to operate for up to 15 seconds after the boy fell, according to a witness. A woman believed to be the boy’s mother was stuck on top of the rollercoaster while others rushed to help.
The boy’s condition was initially reported as non-life-threatening but later changed to critical but stable when doctors found injuries not apparent at the scene. A North Yorkshire police spokeswoman said on Sunday that the boy was breathing independently and his condition continued to improve. Cunningham said: 'Establishing the cause of the incident is now in the hands of the authorities – we are co-operating fully with the Health and Safety Executive investigation.'
