Boy badly hurt in fall from ride at theme park

North West Ambulance Service said the youngster, who is from Halifax, was taken to Wigan Royal Infirmary after the incident at the Camelot Theme Park in Charnock Richard, near Chorley.

A spokeswoman for Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust said his condition was “comfortable and stable”.

The boy, who is 12, fell from a ride called Excalibur 2 at about 1.15pm yesterday. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Roy Page, chief executive of Knights Leisure Ltd, operators of Camelot, told reporters: “At this stage, we do not know the full extent of the injuries sustained and our thoughts are with the young boy and his family.

“Until we have more information to hand, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.”

One man yesterday told reporters the boy was seen hanging from the attraction, a white-knuckle ride where revellers are spun around on a rotating arm.

The ride, which is understood to have opened 10 years ago, is subject to height and weight restrictions.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has already been informed and an internal inquiry is under way at the medieval-themed park, which has been struggling against falling visitor numbers because of the recession and competition from venues including Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach.