A birthday treat turned into terror for a boy visiting the Twin Lakes Park near Melton Mowbray in April 2013.
Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard in February 2015 that he and his parents were on Jester’s Revenge, a spinning barrel ride, when his shoelace became tangled in a bolt, forcing his left foot to be twisted and trapped.
The youngster from Derby had to have his leg straightened as a result of his injury and was bedridden for eight weeks, requiring 24-hour care until his leg healed several months later.
What caused the injury? A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the bolt on the ride’s barrel was protruding by around two centimetres and was actually part of the ride design. The theme park owner, BB & B Leisure Parks Ltd, had tried to cover up the bolt head with agricultural self-adhesive tape. However, despite daily checks this was prone to wearing through by rubbing against people’s shoes.
The verdict: BB & B Leisure Parks Ltd, of Blackawton, Totnes, Devon, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £13,500 and ordered to pay costs of £30,000.
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