Several people are injured as 'gravity-defying' theme park ride 'falls to the floor' without stopping

Several people have been injured after a 'gravity-defying' theme park ride 'fell to the floor' without stopping.

Bounce, a 'drop tower' attraction at Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, Wales, experienced a 'scheduled emergency stop' while in midair. 

Some 20 thrill-seekers, with a number of children believed to be among them, were on the ride when it plunged to the ground yesterday.

Witnesses reported hearing terrified riders 'screaming and crying' as the 147ft-tall ride malfunctioned, sending the lift plummeting 'quickly' down from 'about halfway up', 

An investigation is now under way into what happened on Bounce, which re-opened at the park two years ago after a £400,000 refurbishment.

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The theme park, the biggest in Wales, opened in 1987 on a family farm before being taken over by Spanish entertainment company Aspro Parks. 

Bounce is described on Oakwood's website as 'a gravity-defying, stomach-lurching shot 'n' drop tower ride'.

'Straight up, straight down - with lots of screams in between,' it added.

The popular attraction re-opened in 2022 after being closed since 2016. It is a drop tower-style ride which takes guests up into the air before dropping them back down again and 'bouncing back up'.

Some 20 people were reportedly on it during yesterday's emergency - with many of the riders described as 'school-age'. 

A visitor on board the plunge tower when the incident happened said it 'fell to the floor without slowing down'.

They said children were 'screaming and crying' as the ride 'went up and down a few times' before it 'fell quickly to the ground from about halfway up the tower'.

The guest, who did not want to be named, claimed around eight people received first aid treatment on site while four others visited hospital for further treatment.

Describing the incident, the park guest claimed the way the incident was handled was 'awful', and claimed they only stopped and helped people who 'complained of pain or anything wrong'.

They added: 'There have been no apologies from the park, they only gave information for guest relations because we asked for it to take it further after the fact we were told no management was available.'

It's not the first time the park has been rocked by an emergency. 

In 2008 it was fined £250,000 over the death of a schoolgirl in a 100ft fall from a white knuckle ride.

Hayley Williams, 16, was killed when she plunged from the Hydro water-thrill ride at the popular Pembrokeshire attraction.

She was taken to the theme park as a treat with seven friends by her parents.

Hayley and her friends left the £1.7 million Hydro ride until last because they knew they would get soaking wet.

Friends told how they began chanting 'here we go, here we go' as they began their climb to the top of the ride in April 2004.

But the court heard the ride supervisor and his assistant had not checked Hayley's lap bar or safety belt on the 24-seater boat.

The theme park has insisted an investigation into the latest incident at the site will take place.  

A spokesperson for Oakwood Theme Park said: 'During operation on Wednesday, our drop tower ride Bounce experienced a programmed Emergency Stop Procedure in response to the ride drop height during a guest cycle.

'The stoppage which resulted in the passenger gondola stopping in the ride brakes was attended to by our park team and the ride was lowered to the ground where guests were able to disembark.

'A number of guests reported minor lower back pain immediately after the occurrence and were attended to by our onsite team of first aiders, where assistance was provided. One group sought additional treatment locally, whilst others continued their day at the park. 

'Bounce will remain closed whilst we consult with the ride manufacturer.'