M&Ds director Douglas Taylor has insisted the theme park rollercoaster crash in North Lanarkshire which has left two children in serious condition in hospital was the "first incident of this type" in 50 years of business.
It has also emerged that the Tsunami ride which crashed on Sunday afternoon had only had its annual safety check a matter of weeks ago.
It further emerged the ride was closed for the whole of the previous day due to what the operators say was "a minor electrical fault" and was "fully operational" on the day of the crash.
Ten people were initially taken to hospital after the Tsunami ride derailed and hit the ground at M&D's amusement park at Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell.
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Two boys, aged 11 and 12, are in a serious condition at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, one with chest, abdominal and leg injuries and the other with arm and hand injuries after the rollercoaster crashed 20ft off its tracks.
In total, six others remain in hospital including a 19-year-old man with a knee injury, a 14-year-old girl with chest injuries and an 11-year-old boy with head and leg injuries.
READ MORE: Distraught grandad of 11-year-old victim says surgeons have saved his hand
Among those already discharged from hospital was a 25-year-old woman who was walking past the rollercoaster when the carriage plunged to the ground.
Police Scotland said she was checked over and released without any injuries.
Mr Taylor said he and his brother Matthew had been in business together for 50 years and this is the "first incident of this type that we’ve ever been involved in."
He said: "We are devastated as both a family and a business, and our heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by the accident.
“I would like to pay tribute to everyone who was on the scene, from our own staff to members of the public and, of course, the emergency services for their incredible response.
READ MORE; Distraught grandad of 11-year-old victim says surgeons have saved his hand
Our thoughts are with the people who have been injured and their families. We hope everyone makes a full recovery.
“We’re co-operating fully with the joint HSE and Police Scotland investigation. It would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the accident until the investigation is complete."
M&Ds said the Tsunami had and passed its independent safety inspection in early June, 2016.
“Each and every ride within the theme park is safety checked on a daily basis and undergoes a thorough independent inspection every 12 months," he said.
Officers are now investigating the crash with the Health and Safety Executive and engineers are inspecting the Tsunami.
According to the M&D's website, the Tsunami rollercoaster can go at speeds of up to 40mph through corkscrew turns and loops.
It is not the first time M&D's has had problems with its rides, including Tsunami.
In July 2011, nine passengers, including children, were stranded for more than eight hours when it came to a halt 60ft above the ground.
In March this year, eight people had to be rescued by firefighters in a cherry picker after the Tornado rollercoaster stopped working about 20ft off the ground.
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