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Park defends Rita: Queen of Speed

In the News
Tuesday, 14th June 2005 By Dan Ketteringham

A mother is claiming that her twelve year old daughter broke both her wrists on the new roller coaster.

Amelia Seiga, 12, from Colwyn Bay, north Wales was treated for sprained wrists by medics on the scene after going on the ride in April.

The girl's mother, Jane Seiga, said the force of the launch was so strong it peeled Amelia's hands off the handle bars and bent her wrists back.

After a week of pain, Ms Seiga asked for an x-ray which she says showed both Amelia's wrists were broken.

The ride has been given the all-clear by safety officials, however.

Ms Seiga is now asking for Rita's height restriction to be raised to prevent it happening to other children.

An Alton Towers spokeswoman said: "A full and thorough investigation of Rita, Queen of Speed was completed both internally by Alton Towers and externally by the Health and Safety Executive.

"The investigation concluded the ride is safe and no changes to the ride, height restrictions or operating procedures are deemed to be necessary."

A Health and Safety spokesman confirmed no faults had been found.

"However, as it is a new ride, Alton Towers will continue to monitor it closely and will report any further incidents," he said.

If there were further incidents the investigation would be reopened, he added.

Source: BBC News


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