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Alton Towers Smiler crash: Four rollercoasters shut Alton Towers Smiler crash: Four rollercoasters shut
(35 minutes later)
Four rollercoasters at three theme parks have been shut after a crash at Alton Towers in which 16 people were injured, four seriously.Four rollercoasters at three theme parks have been shut after a crash at Alton Towers in which 16 people were injured, four seriously.
The Smiler, which crashed, and Saw, a similar ride at Thorpe Park, would both be shut "for the foreseeable future", owner Merlin Entertainments said.The Smiler, which crashed, and Saw, a similar ride at Thorpe Park, would both be shut "for the foreseeable future", owner Merlin Entertainments said.
Two rides at Chessington World of Adventures have also been closed until new safety protocols have been applied.Two rides at Chessington World of Adventures have also been closed until new safety protocols have been applied.
Alton Towers said the park would be closed again on Saturday.Alton Towers said the park would be closed again on Saturday.
A prohibition notice has been served on the Smiler ride by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors, stopping its use "until action is taken to deal with the cause of the failure".A prohibition notice has been served on the Smiler ride by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors, stopping its use "until action is taken to deal with the cause of the failure".
'Devastating experience''Devastating experience'
Two carriages, one of which was empty, crashed on Tuesday, leaving some passengers trapped for four-and-a-half hours.Two carriages, one of which was empty, crashed on Tuesday, leaving some passengers trapped for four-and-a-half hours.
Two men, 27 and 18, a woman, 19, and a girl, 17, have suffered serious leg injuries and remain in hospital.Two men, 27 and 18, a woman, 19, and a girl, 17, have suffered serious leg injuries and remain in hospital.
Daniel Thorpe, 27, underwent surgery on Thursday, the BBC understands.Daniel Thorpe, 27, underwent surgery on Thursday, the BBC understands.
Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said: "Whilst the investigation into the causes is continuing, we have identified a series of additional safety protocols that we are implementing immediately across our multi-car rollercoasters.Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said: "Whilst the investigation into the causes is continuing, we have identified a series of additional safety protocols that we are implementing immediately across our multi-car rollercoasters.
"This has been a devastating experience, and we are committed to learning the lessons from it.""This has been a devastating experience, and we are committed to learning the lessons from it."
Bosses hope to reopen Alton Towers in the "next few days".Bosses hope to reopen Alton Towers in the "next few days".
It is estimated the park has been losing up to £500,000 a day since Tuesday.It is estimated the park has been losing up to £500,000 a day since Tuesday.
Sam Bailey, 30, from Kent, said she had been in the same row of the Smiler ride as those injured only a week earlier.Sam Bailey, 30, from Kent, said she had been in the same row of the Smiler ride as those injured only a week earlier.
"By chance I was sat on the front row of the carriage" she said."By chance I was sat on the front row of the carriage" she said.
"It's crazy to think after seeing the pictures. I happened to be sitting on the same seat as them only a few days earlier.""It's crazy to think after seeing the pictures. I happened to be sitting on the same seat as them only a few days earlier."
Ms Bailey was also at Chessington World of Adventure in Surrey on Thursday and said the Dragonsfury ride was shut down soon after 15:00 BST.Ms Bailey was also at Chessington World of Adventure in Surrey on Thursday and said the Dragonsfury ride was shut down soon after 15:00 BST.
The park's Rattlesnake ride is also closed.The park's Rattlesnake ride is also closed.
A Chessington spokeswoman said the two rides were safe, but staff working on them needed further training before they could be reopened, which she hoped would not take more than a few days.A Chessington spokeswoman said the two rides were safe, but staff working on them needed further training before they could be reopened, which she hoped would not take more than a few days.
An "additional set of safety protocols and procedures that will reinforce the safe operation of our multi-car rollercoasters" has been implemented and was "effective immediately", Merlin Entertainments said.An "additional set of safety protocols and procedures that will reinforce the safe operation of our multi-car rollercoasters" has been implemented and was "effective immediately", Merlin Entertainments said.
It added it was co-operating fully with the HSE and intended to complete a "thorough appraisal" of its safety processes at Alton Towers "in the near future".It added it was co-operating fully with the HSE and intended to complete a "thorough appraisal" of its safety processes at Alton Towers "in the near future".
The HSE said carriages involved in the Smiler crash would be removed later and taken to its laboratory in Buxton for further analysis.The HSE said carriages involved in the Smiler crash would be removed later and taken to its laboratory in Buxton for further analysis.
It said the prohibition notice did not affect other rides at Alton Towers.It said the prohibition notice did not affect other rides at Alton Towers.
What do you think about the closure of the rides at Alton Towers? Have you already purchased weekend tickets for Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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