Woman injured in theme park accident

A woman was airlifted to hospital after an accident at a fairground in North Yorkshire.

The woman was taken to Leeds General Infirmary after two cars on the Treetop Twister ride at Lightwater Valley Theme Park, in Ripon, North Yorkshire "shunted" into each other.

Three men suffered whiplash after being thrown against safety barriers and were taken to Harrogate District Hospital. One is believed to have suffered a broken arm.

We have run the park for 20 years and it has an excellent safety record

Dudley Westgate
Lightwater Valley Theme Park

The woman, thought to be about 20, was unconscious and suffered severe head and spinal injuries, according to Nigel Metcalf of the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Dudley Westgate, a spokesman for the theme park, said the accident happened at 1345BST and had left staff "devastated".

He said: "At 1345BST two cars on the ride shunted into each other, with one going into the other. Four people were in the cars at the time, two in each.

"We have run the park for 20 years and it has an excellent safety record. Every member of staff and management are devastated."

The Tree Top Twister ride was only installed at theme park in May, and was certified by the Health and Safety Executive, who will now carry out an investigation into the incident.