Amusement Park Ride Derails in Wales, Injuring 14 Including 13 Children
- Victor Nwoko
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
Fourteen people, including thirteen children, were injured when a roller coaster ride derailed at Coney Beach Amusement Park in Porthcawl, Bridgend County, Wales. The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 13, when the Wacky Worm ride left its tracks, prompting an emergency response from South Wales Police. Authorities confirmed that some victims required hospital treatment, though injuries were described as minor.
Police reported being called to the amusement park at approximately 5:50 p.m. The park has since been closed while health and safety officials investigate. In a statement, the park explained that the ride involved was operated by a third party and that they were instructed to clear the site. Management has apologized to guests and is offering refunds, with instructions posted on their Facebook page and website.
The Wacky Worm, described on the park’s website as a small, introductory roller coaster for children, has been marketed as a family-friendly thrill ride. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and fear as the ride malfunctioned.
Rebecca Eccleston, a 22-year-old mother, recounted that her 1-year-old son Theo was bruised when a metal railing from the ride struck his stroller. “All of a sudden there was a massive bang,” she said, adding that the railing hit her shoulder before deflecting into the stroller. She credited this deflection with preventing more serious injuries to her son, though he was left with a lump on his head and visibly shaken.
Eccleston described one child losing teeth after striking the ride’s bars and said that frightened children were screaming as adults rushed to help. She noted that “one car at the back of the ride had derailed itself completely,” calling the experience “horrendous.”
BBC reported that seven of the injured were taken to a local hospital for further treatment. The incident comes as the park faces its final season after more than 100 years in operation, with plans to close later this year.
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