Rush At Thorpe Park Loses 4FT Pieace Off Ride

[shaun allsop]

Just came accross this while browsing the web:

THIS is the moment a theme park turned into a scream park as a 4ft piece of metal flew off a ride and plunged towards families.

Terrified mums, dads and kids on half term ran for it as the chunk hurtled 100 feet.
It smashed into a fence and landed on a path between two rides. But luckily, no one was hit.

The curved section fell off the Rush ride – a massive structure with two carriages that swing in opposite directions – at popular Thorpe Park, Surrey.

Onlooker Phil Jones, of Ashford, Kent, captured the drama on his phone’s camera. He said: “It was a mean piece of metal that could have decapitated someone.”

The ride, built in 2005 as one of the park’s “extreme thrills” amusements, was closed immediately after Tuesday’s incident.

A park spokesman said: “All guests safely disembarked. We are investigating.” Two other key rides, Slammer and Stealth, were also out of order the same day.

Rush is infact an AMERICAN piece of engineering, from S&S Power. It is not British as suggested in the video, but is the only Screamin' Swing currently present in the United Kingdom. They are fairly new attractions, having only started appearing in 2004


Video - Source - Link (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1220389.ece)

[baz6174]

Thankfully no one was injured. I would like to know how this happens so early in the season, especially after all the checks that go on with thrill rides. Someones head is going to roll for that.

[KingVeveraine]

I was in the queue when thiis happened.
Ignor what you have read, it was nothign liek that. All most people saw was the ride stop and we left the area. No screaming families, no runined days, nothing. The staff handles it very effisisisntly and no strange noises were heard. The sun are liars :|.

[jaybuoy]

Also at thorpe park this week stealth got stuck at the top for an hour, they had to get a crane up there and have someone push it backwards.

Very strange two incidents in one week.

[shaun allsop]

Agreed that all the papers like to over exsagirate things and the peaple presant.
Accidents like this do occur but people have to remember that they are rare and the rides are constantly tested every day before opening, checked over regularly by qualified engineers, and that all staff are adequately trained. Rush usually swings for 6 swings due to the volume of air pressure it uses, it is evident from this video that as soon as the piece detatched from the ride the staff hit the E-Stop button and cancelled the ride program, ensuring the safety of guests.

Again I also agree with what Baz says. All that training and all those checks that happen still hasnt prevented down time etc.

Stealth Stalled - Granted it was testing and its not an un common thing

Slammer - Currently Unavalible

Zodiac - Didnt somthing similer happen? And it was replaced 2005

Every theme park has its bad day but it cant be a good thing for there reputation when things like that happen.

[KingVeveraine]

Zodiac was 7 years ago, under different management. Slammer is raely avaliable and the Steath thing is not their fault. But your forggeting the X:NWO incident with the person being paralyzed.

[Cyberleader]

As I discussed with Sir Jonny, thank god such a reputable source like the Sun has warned us. If you go to a theme park, you are SURE to be decapitated!

I mean, that thing was HUGE. It SMASHED through the FENCE with so much force it even CHIPPED it!! It FLEW through the AIR and landed right next to SOMEONE!! There certainly was no NET to slow it down! Bloomin' American-made Screamin' Swing.. British Engineering! PFFT!

[TheFreshEffect]

Didn't look like it flew 100 feet..

[Plokoon111]

Wow, thats serious. Hopefully they inspect the rides structure, or replace it with a more safer thrill ride.

[KingVeveraine]

Didn't look like it flew 100 feet..
It really didn't. It merely slumped of the structure, the thing that sent it into the fence was the footrest that it hit.

Wow, thats serious. Hopefully they inspect the rides structure, or replace it with a more safer thrill ride.
But Rush is the best and is perfectly safe! I hope everyone gets scared of it leaving only a few people going on it so there will be less queues for the rest of us!

[SnooSnoo]

1. It is The Sun.. come on guys.
2. It is Thorpe.. come on guys.

[Cyberleader]

Exactly, it's the Sun, of course, the most reputable source of information ever.

[TheFreshEffect]

1. It is The Sun.. come on guys.

How do you know about 'The Sun' anyhows..?

[Alpengeist]

^Don't you know, Snoo reads The Sun every morning while sipping his tea.

[KingVeveraine]

Well, it most definately did happen!
I witnessed it, although to be perfectly honest it was one of the most inimpressive things ever. It just fell off and on to the floor.

[The Dave]

As I discussed with Sir Jonny, thank god such a reputable source like the Sun has warned us. If you go to a theme park, you are SURE to be decapitated!

I mean, that thing was HUGE. It SMASHED through the FENCE with so much force it even CHIPPED it!! It FLEW through the AIR and landed right next to SOMEONE!! There certainly was no NET to slow it down! Bloomin' American-made Screamin' Swing.. British Engineering! PFFT!
ROFL!!!

Haha, and yes I also read this in the papers.

[DizCoasterMets]

big chunck o metal