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

Children's Day horror

Sixteen children were injured, four seriously, when a joint of its highlight Super Spiral water slide broke loose, tossing the young kids off the ride. It was the second such accident at Siam Park, where a woman was killed on a ride only last October.

Some children plunged into the edge of the pool from the Super Spiral, which was about five metres high at the point of the accident.

The injuries ranged from head wounds to bruises.

The children were sent to Nopparat Hospital. The cause of the accident is still unknown.

Siam Park staff reportedly barred rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation from helping the injured children, saying theme park staff could attend to them.

Noppakarn Luangamornlert, deputy managing director of Amornphant Nakorn-Suan Siam, which runs the theme park, insisted park staff had checked the slide before allowing the children to go on it.

It is the second time in less than four months that the amusement park has experienced significant safety failures.

In October last year, Siam Park hit headlines when a 35-year-old Thai woman died and five others were injured when a ride called the Indiana Log malfunctioned.

Siam Park managing director Wuthichai Luengamornlert said on Saturday that the Super Spiral ride was installed and in service for some 20 years. It was originally purchased from a company in Canada, and is billed in advertising and on the park's website as the premier ride and attraction.

http://www.siamparkcity.com/

The ride was up to standard and has a 30 year life, he claimed.

Further investigation is needed to find the cause of the breakage, and staff drained the water from the ride to facilitate a police investigation to inspect and determine the cause of the accident, he said.

Wuthichai said Siam Park accepts responsibility for the accident and pledged to cover all treatment expenses.

Bangkok Post

28 hurt in Siam Park Children's Day calamity

BANGKOK, Jan 12 (TNA) – Twenty-eight children were injured--four critically--when part of an elevated amusement park watercourse collapsed Saturday at Siam Park in suburban Bangkok.

The 10-to12-year-old riders were being treated at a local hospital.

The "Super Spiral" waterslide accident occurred during Children's Day when joints holding segments of the popular ride collapsed.

Seven young riders fell through the damaged slide, according to company executive.

It is the second time in less than four months that the amusement park has experienced significant safety failures.

Siam Park managing director Wuthichai Luengamornlert said the "Super Spiral," a water slide three-stories high, had broken at the 2.5 metre level and that in addition aged 10-12 riding from the top of the water channel fell from the broken joint.

Most of the 28 injured childred suffered head injuries, with some broken limbs and bruises.

Four children remain in critical condition.

Mr. Wuthichai said Siam Park accepts responsibility for the accident and pledged to cover all treatment expenses.

Siam Park staff drained the water from the ride to facilitate a police investigation to inspect and determine the cause of the accident, he said.

The Super Spiral was installed and in service for some 20 years, he said, adding that the Siam Park bought it from a company in Canada.

Mr. Wuthichai said he believed that the Super Spiral was up to standard and has a 30 year life, but further investigation is needed to find the cause of the breakage.

In October last year, Siam Park hit headlines when a 35-year-old Thai woman died and five others were injured when a ride called the Indiana Log malfunctioned.

TNA