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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.
Merlin Entertainments said the victims of the crash would "want for nothing".Merlin Entertainments said the victims of the crash would "want for nothing".
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".
Compensation
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, suffered serious leg injuries and remain in hospital.Two men, 27 and 18, a woman, 19, and a girl, 17, suffered serious leg injuries and remain in hospital.
Daniel Thorpe, 27, underwent surgery on Thursday, the BBC understands. 'Criminal prosecutions'
Daniel Thorpe, 27, from Buxton underwent surgery on Thursday, the BBC understands.
Vicky Balch, 19, from Leyland in Lancashire, remains in a "critical condition" in hospital, according to her lawyer Paul Paxton.
Ms Balch is expected to make a claim for damages, Mr Paxton said, although the main focus at the moment was on her recovery.
"It is expected that serious consideration will be given to criminal prosecutions. The family are distraught that a fun day out could turn into such a potentially life-changing disaster," he said.
Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said it was the "first major accident we've had on a ride in the company's history".Nick Varney, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said it was the "first major accident we've had on a ride in the company's history".
'Want for nothing'
"Our first priority has been to look after the people on that ride," he said."Our first priority has been to look after the people on that ride," he said.
"We want to do everything we possibly can to support those families [most severely affected]."We want to do everything we possibly can to support those families [most severely affected].
"We haven't managed to make contact with all of them and we are desperately trying to do that."We haven't managed to make contact with all of them and we are desperately trying to do that.
"They will want for nothing in the sense of what they need, be it accommodation, transport anything."They will want for nothing in the sense of what they need, be it accommodation, transport anything.
"And of course there will not be any question of them needing to go through the anguish of arguing for compensation.""And of course there will not be any question of them needing to go through the anguish of arguing for compensation."
Bosses hope to reopen Alton Towers in the "next few days", but the Smiler ride will remain closed until the cause of the accident is known. 'Cause of failure'
Mr Varney said there was "no conclusive answer yet", but the firm believed it was caused by a "rather unique sequence of events". Alton Towers will remain closed on Saturday, but bosses hope to reopen the park in the "next few days". The Smiler ride will stay out of action until the cause of the accident is known.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors have served a prohibition notice on the ride stopping its use "until action is taken to deal with the cause of the failure".
Mr Varney said there was "no conclusive answer yet", but the firm believed the accident was caused by a "rather unique sequence of events".
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.
Safety protocols
Sam Bailey, 30, from Kent, said she had been in the same row of the Smiler ride only a few days ago as those injured.Sam Bailey, 30, from Kent, said she had been in the same row of the Smiler ride only a few days ago as those injured.
"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."
'Safety protocols'
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.
Mr Varney said extra safety protocols had been introduced across Merlin's theme parks, but it would take a few days to implement those on two Chessington rides as they used "different operating systems".Mr Varney said extra safety protocols had been introduced across Merlin's theme parks, but it would take a few days to implement those on two Chessington rides as they used "different operating systems".
He said Thorpe Park's Saw ride had been closed until the cause of the Alton Towers crash is known as it was made by the same manufacturer and was essentially a "very similar ride" to the Smiler.He said Thorpe Park's Saw ride had been closed until the cause of the Alton Towers crash is known as it was made by the same manufacturer and was essentially a "very similar ride" to the Smiler.
Merlin said it was co-operating fully with the HSE investigation and intended to complete a "thorough appraisal" of its safety processes at Alton Towers "in the near future". Merlin Entertainments said it was co-operating fully with the HSE investigation 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.
Have you been affected by the crash at Alton Towers? What do you think about the closure of the rides? Have you already purchased weekend tickets for Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukHave you been affected by the crash at Alton Towers? What do you think about the closure of the rides? 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
Please leave a contact number if you are willing to speak with a BBC journalist.Please leave a contact number if you are willing to speak with a BBC journalist.