Accident at Parc Asterix on their river rapids today

At 15:38 local time, at Parc Asterix (near Paris in France), a 6 years old belgian boy fell from the boat and drowned...

It happened during the "wave pool" section of the ride and for reasons still unknown, he was thrown or fell in the water, where he drowned. He was found 20 minutes later.

Sorry, the only news items I got are in french, but if I found anything in english, I'll contribute it.

Regarding the accident, 2 things jump to mind: they still use the wave pool there, while most parks in the US deactived theirs. Second, there's no restraints on the one at Parc Asterix and low seat backs. Could that have contributed? *** Edited 7/5/2006 8:02:59 PM UTC by Absimilliard***

This seems like it has been the worst week for accidents. My thoughts are with the family. Hopefully, we'll get the full details soon.

This accident?

http://amusementsafety.org/safety_news.htm#jul506b

It is the only place I could find it in english...sorry! *** Edited 7/5/2006 9:42:09 PM UTC by Gorman*** *** Edited 7/5/2006 9:42:47 PM UTC by Gorman***

Ok, what I could collect from an additional news article...

The kid seems to have been ejected at the middle of the ride. But, his body was only found 20 minutes after the incident.. at the base of the lift.

Based on what I know, I guess the employees reacted correctly by e-stopping the ride (and emptying the river), but the kid may have been carried by the rushing water to the base of the lift.

The current on those rapid rides is very fast. They should put seat belts on that ride. I mean how ofter do the boats flip over compaired to someone falling out of the boat.

That is my theory at least.

I think most safety experts around these parts actually think the rides are safer without the safety belts.

I know from my personal experience working one of these rides that seat belts really do very little in actually keeping people in their seats.

Sad story, though. What exactly is the "wave pool" section of the ride?

^ I was going to say the same thing about that. What is a "wave pool" element on a rapid ride?

Its a slow section of the ride where you stall as a wave machine (like in a wave pool!) sends wave after wave in that section. Great Escape had one on their Raging River ride... but it was removed a few years ago.

The rapid ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas has (or use to have, since I have not been there since 2001) a large pool near the botom of the lift.

One time my raft drifted off to the side and got stranded with another raft at side of the lift for 5-10 minutes!

The wave pool sounds somewhat bizarre, somewhat boring, and a great way to kill capacity, lol. Does anybody have any pics of such a thing? I'm just really fascinated by this because I had no idea such a thing existed. *** Edited 7/5/2006 11:40:28 PM UTC by matt.***

Didn't find him for 20 minutes?!!!

Wow, I was an alternate on WWC at PKI several times many moons ago... if a boat flipped (never did)or someone fell out (never did) or jumped out (never did) I was trained to hit E-Stop and the pumps shut off immediately. The entire attraction drained in less than 2 minutes.

Odd.

Shaggy

Shaggy: I had to hit the E-stop on my ride once and the entire thing drained in a minute and a half. It was an awful situation (nobody was hurt or anything) but I was mindful of how long it would take to drain just because of curiosity.

But yeah, seriously. Weird. You would think that if the lift is at (or towards) the end of the ride you would assume that that's where the body would be. Sorry if that sounds kinda harsh or weird, like I said, very sad story. *** Edited 7/5/2006 11:43:20 PM UTC by matt.***

That would be horible if the kid got stuck if the lift hill wood platforms chains. The lift hills on rapid ride freak me out because I feel like the raft will flip because it is a sutch an angle and how tall they are compaired to how wide. (6 seater)

There have been a few rapid river ride capsizes, and one was in fact a fatal accident. At the time, the seat belt was implicated as a contributing factor in the severity of the accident, as it kept a rider trapped under water.

Remember, "restrained" is not a synonym for "safe".

For what it is worth, I think Cedar Point still has a wave machine on their rapids ride. It's just yet another way to fill the ride with choppy water.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

^ I have to agree that seatbelts on these rides seem more unsafe than no restraints at all. I was two boats ahead of the capsized tube on the MB Pavilion rapids ride (which I believe contributed to a few deaths because the belts could not be removed without the ride-op key) and it was a horrible scene. The trough emptied in about 3 minutes but it was too late for the people on the boat.

Since then the waterfalls, water jets, and other effects have been toned down to about half of what they once were.

to hear about 6-year-olds die on these rides really hurts. that is just not right!
people need to watch out for these kids - maybe prevent them from going on these rides without at least their parents or a personal guardian at all.
*** Edited 7/6/2006 11:45:38 PM UTC by superman***