M&D's rollercoaster crash: Theme park co-owner insists Tsunami ride won't be scrapped

M&Ds director Douglas Taylor, 63, spoke out as some victims of the Tsunami ride crash told of their horror over the Sunday afternoon incident with some saying they thought they were going to die.

Mr Taylor who has insisted crash was the "first incident of this type" in 50 years of business, was asked if the ride will be scrapped and he said simply: "No."

Mr Taylor, who jointly owns Scotland's largest theme park with his brother Matthew who have more than eight generations of fairground folk in their blood, had said in an earlier statement: "We are devastated as both a family and a business, and our heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by the accident."

READ MORE: M&Ds rollercoaster crash: Tsunami passed an annual safety inspection just weeks ago

Katie McArdle, a 19-year-old who was injured in the crash at the theme park in Strathclyde Park, North Lanarkshire has said she thought she was going to die.

She said on social media she was discharged with a reported broken wrist while her boyfriend is said to have dislocated his knee.

The college student said: "I have never been so scared in my entire life. Honestly thought I was going to die, sitting in that carriage upside down with everyone screaming.

READ MORE: M&Ds rollercoaster crash: Tsunami passed an annual safety inspection just weeks ago

"Turning round and not seeing William beside me was the worst.

"We are honestly so so lucky, there is definitely someone watching over us both. We are both still in shock and have a few injuries but just so lucky to be alive."

The ride was full when it came off the track and police, firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene as several visitors posted images on social media appearing to show a mangled carriage on a pathway surrounded by dozens of people.

Meanwhile the granddad of an 11-year-old Liam Boyle, one of the crash victims has revealed surgeons have managed to save his hand suffered serious hand injuries and has undergone eight hours of surgery.

READ MORE: M&Ds rollercoaster crash: Tsunami passed an annual safety inspection just weeks ago

Thomas Campbell, from Glasgow, took to social media to say "they have saved his arm and hand recovery will take a while but at least we know he's going to be alright".

According to the M&D's website, the Tsunami rollercoaster can go at speeds of up to 40mph through corkscrew turns and loops.

Children under 10 are not allowed to ride and under 14s must be accompanied by a paying adult.

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."

When asked whether the ride would be scrapped, he replied "no".

Mr Taylor was then asked "so, it will reopen again" and he said "yes".

In a statement he added: "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.

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."

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.

It has emerged that a senior inspector from the Health and Safety Executive discovered damage to a cross beam at the bottom of the Tsunami ride, which was involved in Sunday’s accident after an accident five years ago.

Richard Wilson, an inspector conducted an investigation at the Motherwell attraction following an accident in 2011, when nine people had to be rescued from the Tsunami after being trapped for up to eight hours when it

He made a series of recommendations which the HSE said had been carried out “in full."

Douglas Taylor's dream of creating a world-class entertainment business began back home in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, when he and his brother first began to plan what has become Scotland's largest theme park, M&D's.

It was a tough journey for the Taylors. Douglas began working in the fairground business at eight years of age and missed a lot of schooling. Brother, better known as Mattie was unable to write his own name at 14.

But what the brothers lacked in formal education they more than made up for in determination and nous.

They opened the gates of M&D's theme park in Strathclyde Country Park in 1996 with just 20 staff and achieved turnover of £700,000 in the first year.