Children were among the 14 people injured at Coney Beach Pleasure Park in Porthcawl, south Wales after a popular rollercoaster – the Wacky Worm ride – malfunctioned
A panicked mum told how she saw children “screaming and covered in blood” after a rollercoaster derailed at a theme park on Wednesday.
Rebecca Eccleston heard a “massive bang” before a metal railing smashed into her pram with one-year-old son Theo inside. It left her baby with bruises to his face. Further children suffered other injuries too, including severe cuts.
The Wacky Worm ride derailed at Coney Beach Pleasure Park in Porthcawl, south Wales, derailed and it is said a metail railing fell onto Rebecca’s pram. Guests were seen climbing off the rollercoaster – described by the attraction as “the perfect first thrill ride for the kids” – while others were helped down with a ladder.
Rebecca, 22, said: “It was all fine and the kids were enjoying themselves then all of a sudden there was a massive bang. I turned and the metal railing had fallen on to my right shoulder and my pram. All the kids were screaming and covered in blood, including my best mate’s boy.”
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South Wales Police said 13 children and one adult suffered minor injuries while some needed hospital treatment. Coney Beach Pleasure Park has issued an apology, stating it was “a third-party ride” and an investigation has been launched. The attraction was closed on Thursday but is expected to reopen today.
The one-day closure has done little to calm other parents, who watched the horror unfold on Wednesday. Matthew Baker’s children were among those injured. The 44-year-old dad, who travelled with his family from Port Talbot, south Wales, said: “My four-year-old had a busted lip – there was a lot of blood – and he has bruises on his body.
“My 15-year-old hurt her left knee, and my 13-year-old daughter, who was sitting behind them, hit her chin so hard her jaw is swollen and she’s badly bruised around the ribs… Beyond the physical injuries, all three of them are really shaken up.”
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Coney Beach Amusement Park said: “Due to an incident on a third-party ride not owned by Coney Beach, we were instructed by the police to clear the site for further investigation.
“We apologise for the disruption and will be providing refunds to affected guests as soon as possible. We will be releasing instructions on refunds shortly. We thank you for your cooperation.”
South Wales Police conducted an investigation at the theme park on Thursday, a probe set to continue. It confirmed 14 people suffered minor injuries but is yet to comment further on the incident.