Investigation After Yorkshire Boy Falls From Theme Park Ride

24 August 2011, 09:49 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

An investigation's underway after a 12 year old boy from Halifax fell from a ride at a theme park.

The schoolboy came off the Excalibur 2 ride at Camelot Theme Park, in Lancashire, on Tuesday afternoon before being rushed to hospital.

One man told The Lancashire Evening Post he was seen hanging from the white-knuckle ride, which spins revellers around on a rotating arm.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Lancashire Police have launched a joint investigation into what happened.

A spokesman for the HSE, which is leading the investigation, said: "A boy was seriously injured when he fell from the Excalibur 2 ride at Camelot Theme Park, Chorley at about 1pm. Our inspectors will be visiting the site.''

Lancashire Police said the boy, who is yet to be identified, was from Halifax and appeared to have fallen from the ride. "The circumstances as to how he fell are being investigated,'' a force spokesman added.

North West Ambulance Service said the victim was taken to Wigan Royal Infirmary after being seriously injured. A spokeswoman for Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust said he was in a "comfortable and stable'' condition. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Roy Page, chief executive of Knights Leisure Limited, operators of Camelot, told the Evening Post: "Our thoughts are with the young boy and his family. Until we have more information to hand, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.''

The newspaper said the Excalibur 2 is one of Camelot's most popular rides and was installed 10 years ago.  It is described on the park's website as "fearsome, stomach churning and a test of the nerves'', and has a minimum height restriction of 1.4 metres.

The ride will remain closed until the operator has conducted an internal investigation and the HSE confirmed it is safe to re-open, the paper added.