Fantasy Island ride makes ‘loud noise’ as emergency stop activated
Fantasy Island[1] is investigating one of its rides after an "abnormal extremely loud noise" was heard after an emergency stop was activated and passengers were offered first aid. The incident occurred on the Volcano ride at Fantasy Island Theme Park in Skegness[2] on Sunday, September 3.
The ride, which shoots passengers 183ft at 50mph to mimic a volcanic eruption, released moisture-filled air along with a loud noise due to a fault in a pneumatic valve. Fantasy Island has released a statement on its Facebook[3] page following the incident.
In a Facebook post, a mum has said she had "never been so scared in her life" for her daughter after witnessing the ride "slam to the bottom" with a "massive explosion" after someone appeared to have hit the emergency stop. She claims she saw two young girls who realised they hadn't been strapped in jump out of the ride before the emergency stop was activated.
She then says there was gas "pouring and pouring" out and people were breaking their children out, "not knowing what will happen next." She said her daughter's legs and ears were aching as a result of the incident and she is traumatised.
The statement was put out at 12.04pm on Tuesday, September 5 and states: "An incident occurred on the Volcano ride at Fantasy Island on Sunday 3rd September. We are currently conducting a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to the emergency stop of the ride being activated.
Poll - Where is best for a day out with the kids in Lincolnshire?[4]
"The ride is designed to launch using high pressured compressed air, where in standard operation the release of the pressure would usually be processed through a silencing system. However, in a situation where the emergency stop is activated, the ride is then designed to release the air pressure as quickly as possible to enable the safe evacuation of passengers."
It adds: "Unfortunately, due to a fault in a pneumatic valve this ‘pressure dump’ caused an abnormal extremely loud noise and a release of moisture filled air, which was amplified due to the air release being inside the volcano theming. All passengers were offered first aid but declined.
"The Volcano is an extremely popular ride at Fantasy Island which has been operating since 1998, and as the safety and ride experience of our guests is extremely important to us, the Volcano will remain closed whilst this investigation is ongoing. The rest of the park will remain open as usual."
References
- ^ Fantasy Island (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Skegness (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Facebook (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Where is best for a day out with the kids in Lincolnshire? (xd.wayin.com)