Ride derails in Wales: 14 injured, including children
Thirteen children and one adult sustained minor injuries after a cart on an amusement park ride went off track.
The incident occurred on Coney Beach’s Wacky Worm in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, which is described on its website as a "small introductory roller coaster."
One mother mentioned that a metal railing fell onto her son’s pram while she heard children "screaming" and "crying out" after a cart on the ride came off the track on Wednesday evening.
In a statement, Coney Beach Pleasure Park reported that it was directed by police to clear the site following the incident on a "third-party ride" not owned by the park.
Rebecca Eccleston, 22, from Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, was at the amusement park with her son and a big group of friends when the incident happened.
"It was all fine and the kids were enjoying themselves then all of a sudden there was a massive bang," she said.
"I turned and the metal railing had fallen on to my right shoulder and my pram."
She described how a car at the back of the ride had "derailed itself completely", with children screaming, and her one-year-old son narrowly avoiding serious injury.
The pleasure park dates back to 1918, but is set to close in October, with homes, shops and restaurants built on the waterfront in a redevelopment.
Footage on social media appears to show adults helping a number of children off the ride.
South Wales Police advised the public to avoid the area and said officers were called to the amusement park at about 17:50 BST following an accident on one of the rides.
Seven patients were taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment.
The amusement park will remain closed on Thursday while officers and health and safety personnel carry out their investigation.
Ms Eccleston’s one-year-old son Theo, who was in the pram, luckily came out of the incident with only a few bruises.
"If it wasn’t for my mate it would’ve been a totally different story because the metal railing was on top of my pram," she said.
"She stopped the impact with her shoulder."
Ms Eccleston said she saw children "screaming" and "crying out", adding: "One car at the back of the ride had derailed itself completely.
"No-one could get out and obviously my mate’s partner ran straight away to go and get the kids."
She added: "It all happened so fast.
"My son Theo is completely shaken up. He’s got a massive lump on his head.
"It was horrendous. All you could hear was the screams of the children."
Ms Eccleston said one child had to be rushed to hospital because he "lost his teeth on the bars" of the Wacky Worm ride.
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said paramedics, ambulances and a hazardous area response team were sent to the scene.
The park apologised for the disruption and said it will provide refunds to affected customers as soon as possible.
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