UK theme park ride cable snaps as children 30ft in the air
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A woman and two children were being treated for 'shock' after a cable snapped on a family theme park ride yesterday.
The incident took place on the PollyDrop ride at Adventure Wonderland opposite Bournemouth Airport at around 3.15pm.
The woman, named Regan Jones, a neighbour of the children, was taken to hospital with bruising to her back while the kids were treated at the scene for shock.
The mother of the two children, Katherine, 10, and Timothy, seven, told the Daily Echo that the cable snapped forcing the back-up cable to take over.
Debbie Hill said: "Both of the children are shaken up. It must have been horrible for them, especially being stuck in the ride afterwards.
"They looked very scared when I got to them. They were very white."
Mrs Hill added: "They were up in the air when the cable broke.
"I didn't see what happened and I'm really grateful now that I didn't. I think it would have been horrific.
"It's every parent's nightmare to see that I should think.
"I had taken my neighbour's little girl on a small ride and I had just come off when I became aware that something had happened.
"I just saw people rushing over to where the ride was.
"They couldn't release the barriers normally as it was broken I think and they were worried about injuries.
"Staff were on the scene immediately though."
Russell Lucas, one of the directors of Adventure Wonderland, told the Daily Echo: "We know it was reported that the ride had gone down without being on its cable.
"The duty manager immediately went across and so did the ride manager.
"Thankfully no-one was badly hurt.
"There are two cables on the ride and it appears the back-up cable came into play and allowed it to go down safely which is why the three of them are okay and we are delighted that was the case.
"The cables had been replaced over the winter and they have maintenance inspections every day. There is a major inspection during the winter carried out by HSE (Health and Safety Executive) inspectors and then we have daily, monthly, weekly inspections."
He added: "Our reputation is exemplary and we are a park for small children. Our record is second to none."
See the ride in action here:
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