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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Stuck car caused Big Dipper crash | Stuck car caused Big Dipper crash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two carriages collided at Blackpool Pleasure Beach when one of them became jammed on the rails, police have said. | Two carriages collided at Blackpool Pleasure Beach when one of them became jammed on the rails, police have said. |
| Thirty people were injured when the second carriage crashed into the back of the first car on the Big Dipper ride on Tuesday evening. | Thirty people were injured when the second carriage crashed into the back of the first car on the Big Dipper ride on Tuesday evening. |
| Up to 21 casualties were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital with facial, back and neck injuries. Among them was a seven-year-old child. | Up to 21 casualties were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital with facial, back and neck injuries. Among them was a seven-year-old child. |
| David Cam, a spokesman for The Pleasure Beach, apologised for the accident. | David Cam, a spokesman for The Pleasure Beach, apologised for the accident. |
| The Big Dipper was constructed in 1921 (Pic: Stewart Hetherington) | |
| He said: "It's extraordinarily rare that we have an incident like this and it's very sad for us to realise that some people have been injured and we wish them well and a very speedy recovery." | He said: "It's extraordinarily rare that we have an incident like this and it's very sad for us to realise that some people have been injured and we wish them well and a very speedy recovery." |
| The ride has been closed while the Health and Safety Executive investigates. | The ride has been closed while the Health and Safety Executive investigates. |
| After the crash, the two cars came to rest 20ft (6m) off the ground. | After the crash, the two cars came to rest 20ft (6m) off the ground. |
| Firefighters rescued the riders using a specialist rope team, stretchers and spinal boards. | Firefighters rescued the riders using a specialist rope team, stretchers and spinal boards. |
| A Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospital spokesman said: "Twenty of the 21 patients have been discharged but one of the riders, a 25-year-old man, is still in hospital and may require surgery to his face." | A Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospital spokesman said: "Twenty of the 21 patients have been discharged but one of the riders, a 25-year-old man, is still in hospital and may require surgery to his face." |
| Mark Alderson, station manager at South Shore fire station, said: "We started to evacuate the people that were trapped at the high level. | Mark Alderson, station manager at South Shore fire station, said: "We started to evacuate the people that were trapped at the high level. |
| Removed on stretchers | |
| "These casualties were the 'walking wounded' and only had minor injuries. | "These casualties were the 'walking wounded' and only had minor injuries. |
| "They were removed from the carriages and away from the incident to a casualty clearing station. | "They were removed from the carriages and away from the incident to a casualty clearing station. |
| "The more seriously injured were stabilised in position. We then took the casualties from the ride in stretchers and down on to the ground level using specialist rope rescue equipment." | "The more seriously injured were stabilised in position. We then took the casualties from the ride in stretchers and down on to the ground level using specialist rope rescue equipment." |
| Ian Bell, head of Coaster Force, a group dedicated to rollercoasters at attraction parks, said the crash was one of the worst he had seen for two years. | Ian Bell, head of Coaster Force, a group dedicated to rollercoasters at attraction parks, said the crash was one of the worst he had seen for two years. |
| Engineers have been at the site (Pic: Stewart Hetherington) | Engineers have been at the site (Pic: Stewart Hetherington) |
| He said: "It may be an old ride, but that does not mean it is not safe. The older (they are) the more checks they have - it certainly won't stop me from going on it. | He said: "It may be an old ride, but that does not mean it is not safe. The older (they are) the more checks they have - it certainly won't stop me from going on it. |
| "It's one of my favourite rides in Blackpool." | "It's one of my favourite rides in Blackpool." |
| A spokesman for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said that an investigation was under way to establish the cause of the incident. | A spokesman for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said that an investigation was under way to establish the cause of the incident. |
| He said: "The Big Dipper will remain closed while investigations continue but all other rides at Pleasure Beach will open as usual. | He said: "The Big Dipper will remain closed while investigations continue but all other rides at Pleasure Beach will open as usual. |
| "The Pleasure Beach team are working closely with the emergency services and the Health and Safety Executive." | "The Pleasure Beach team are working closely with the emergency services and the Health and Safety Executive." |
| A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said an inspector attended shortly after the accident. | A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said an inspector attended shortly after the accident. |
| The Big Dipper was constructed in 1921, has a track length of 3,295ft (1013.85m) and has a maximum speed of 35mph (56kph). | The Big Dipper was constructed in 1921, has a track length of 3,295ft (1013.85m) and has a maximum speed of 35mph (56kph). |