Siam Park - 13 children injured in water slide accident
13 children injured in Siam Park water slide accident
Thirteen children between 10 to 12 years old were injured when they fell down from a section of 3-storey-high spiral slide at the Siam Park Saturday afternoon.
Noppakarn Luangamornlert, a vice president of Amornphan Nakhon which runs the park, said a section of the water slide broke off and the children fell down at the section, which is about two metres high.
The slide was called Super Spiral and the section that broke off was the last section connecting to the pool.
The Nation
Siam Park Waterslide plunge injures 24 kids
Waterslide plunge injures 24 kids
National Children's Day ended yesterday in a nightmare for many parents, as 24 children were injured when the three-storey Super Spiral waterslide at Bangkok's Siam Park partially collapsed under them.
At about 4.30pm several children aged 10-12 passed through the last curve of the twisting waterslide only to find themselves falling through a one-foot gap and hitting the ground two metres below.
Initially 13 children were rushed to Nopparat Ratcha-thani Hospital, but parents later reported that 11 more had been hurt. Sutthatip Phromthong, 40, who visited the park in Khan Na Yao district with her husband and two children, told The Nation at the hospital that their five-year-old son Juthipong Phromthong had asked her if he could ride the Super Spiral. She let him go alone.
Since she and her children were regular visitors to the park, she let Juthipong and his elder sister play by themselves and sat not far away to watch them.
While looking at her son gliding down the giant amusement ride, she saw several children fall through the opening on the curve, hitting rocks or plants. Her son followed them. He cried and complained of pain in his arm and leg.
The boy saw the riders ahead of him drop through the opening and tried to grab onto the side walls, but they were too smooth. The mother said park executives approached her at the hospital promising to take care of medical expenses.
"I just want my son safe. I'm glad that he's just slightly hurt. We're waiting for the doctor to let him go home," she said.
The park's managing director said management would take responsibility for medical costs and urged parents not to worry, because the children were all right.
The Super Spiral ride will be closed for repairs, and engineers will inspect it for defects. Their findings will be reported to the media later.
Many parents waited outside the hospital's emergency unit, some mothers in tears.
Noppakan Leungamorn-phan, an executive of Amorn-phan Nakhon-Suan Siam Co, said the low-speed waterslide was 15 years old and had been well maintained, unlike the Indiana Log water ride, which caused one death and five injuries last October when its pump failed.
The cause of the accident will be investigated, she said, adding that the park procured good-quality rides from world-class suppliers but malfunctions could happen for many reasons.
The Nation
Four injured children remain in hospital
Four injured children remain in hospital
Four out of the 28 children who suffered injuries after a theme park ride collapsed at Siam Park on Children’s Day remained in hospital for treatment, doctors said on Sunday.
Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin this morning visited all four injured children at hospital and ordered a 15- day closure of the Super Spiral waterslide at Siam Park so thorough checks could be made on it as well as other rides.
The accident occurred when a joint on the park's premier ride, the Super Spiral waterslide, came loose and sent the children plunging from the ride onto the ground.
Doctors at Nopparat Hospital, near Siam Park, said they expected three of the four boys now receiving treatment at the hospital would be discharged within the next one or two days. The fourth boy, aged 13, was still in critical condition with a head injury and vomiting.
Most of the 28 children suffered head injuries. Some also had broken limbs and bruises.
Chantra Purnariksha, secretary-general of the Office of Insurance Regulatory and Supervision Commission, said Siam Park was insured with a local insurance firm and children who had suffered serious injuries would be entitled to receive 500,000 baht each as compensation.
A similar accident occurred at Siam Park last October. The amusement park hit headlines when the Indiana Log ride malfunctioned, killing a 35 year old woman died and seriously injuring five others. (TNA)
Chaiwat says he's depressed after 28 kids injured
SIAM WATER PARK
Sad owner to sell his stake
Chaiwat says he's depressed after 28 kids injured
The president of the Siam Park water amusement complex is so depressed by the latest accident that he is shutting down and selling out.
After 26 years, Siam Park will be closed and sold for Bt5 billion, president, Chaiwat Leungamornphan said.
He said he could not take another accident. Park-goers have been killed and injured in recent incidents.
"My heart is down after learning more people have been injured on a ride at Siam Park. I have been thinking about it all night and I have decided to sell," he said.
There have been two serious accidents at the park in the past three months. In October, one woman was killed and others injured on a ride.
On Saturday, 28 children aged between 10 and 13 were injured when a water slide broke and sent them plummeting two metres to the ground. They were rushed to hospital with head injuries and broken bones.
Chaiwat is meeting today with executives to consider an offer for the park from unnamed buyers.
The 300-rai park is the country's most popular and first water-amusement complex.
As many as 10,000 people a day - or more than two million a year - visit. Yesterday, it was almost empty.
Chaiwat has run the park since it opened. He said it had lost Bt2 billion in that time, and almost Bt4 billion had been spent on maintenance and new rides.
Chaiwat said the park did its best to prevent accidents and had employed foreign engineers and advisers to train staff.
He admitted some staff were "careless" and lacked experience. He blamed this for the accidents.
"I love it, but I have to sell because I cannot take the burden any longer," he said. "This place is like a gift that I never had when I was young. I want children to have fun on the rides. It's an amazing feeling."
Chaiwat said after selling, he would form a charitable foundation to help people.
Bangkok Governor Apriak Kosayodhin has visited victims in hospital. Four remain admitted.
He said the Khan Na Yao district office had asked the park to close the water slide for 15 days so it could be inspected.
District director Teeraboon Manupeerapen said city engineers would look at the collapsed ride and others.
The park will have to ensure all rides are up to standard before the park will be issued another licence.
The government needs to issue a special regulation covering the equipment at amusement parks, he added. Rides are not covered by the Building Control Act of 1979.
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
