Theme park closes after zip-wire death

A THEME PARK closed its doors to the public yesterday “as a mark of respect” to the family of a boy who died after falling from a zip-wire ride.

By The Newsroom

Published 26th Apr 2011, 07:00 BST

The 11-year-old was killed when he fell off the SwampFlyer at Greenwood Forest Park in Snowdonia on Easter Sunday.

North Wales Police and the Health and Safety Executive have launched a joint investigation.

A spokesman for the theme park said: “We have closed as a mark of respect to the boy’s family.”

The park is expected to reopen today.

Yesterday Steve Williams, operations manager at the park, said the “safety kit” on the ride had been inspected in the morning in line with procedure and everything was in order. The park is carrying out its own inquiry with the police and the HSE.

The boy, who has not yet been named, fell from the 145meter-long zip-wire, which was only launched last week, which goes up to 30ft at its highest point.

The attraction spans the entire wooded valley in which the park lies.

Theme park Health and Safety Executive