Tragic accident at amusement park in Aarhus
A 14-year-old girl from Copenhagen has died after the accident at Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus. This was confirmed by the Danish police on Thursday afternoon.
The message we received was that people were stuck in a carriage. Life-saving first aid was quickly launched, but unfortunately the 14-year-old girls have passed away, says police inspector in the East Jutland police district, Brian Voss Olsen during a press conference.
See the entire press conference:
The accident happened in the amusement park’s attractions “Cobra” at 12.30.
– A 13-year-old boy has also sustained injuries in one hand, the police say.
Relatives of both teenagers have been notified.
A third person who was reported injured has only received minor injuries.
Investigated
Olsen says that a major investigation has been launched. He emphatically asks people who have pictures of the accident not to share this on social media.
– It is too early to conclude what may be the cause of this tragic accident, says Olsen.
There were many witnesses to the incident, both staff and guests. Crisis assistance will be provided to those who need it.
The park was closed after the accident, and it is also determined that it will be closed on Friday.
– The exact cause of the accident, including death, must now be investigated via e.g. technical investigations and questioning of witnesses at the scene of the accident, police say.
Witnesses have explained that two of the carriages on the “Cobra” roller coaster were torn loose from attractions.
– There was a big crash, and it was people who cried, an eyewitness tells Aarhus Stiftstidende.
Sat fast
Newspapers write that to guests sat trapped 2-3 meters above the hill, but that they must have rescued from the roller coaster shortly after.
According to the East Jutland fire service, there are three injured, the fire service informs Danish TV 2.
The people have been taken to the hospital and the condition of one of the people was critical. Shortly afterwards, the news came that a 14-year-old girl had died after the injuries.
The extent of the damage to the last person is still unclear, but according to several Danish media, there must be talk of minor injuries.
The emergency services must have been notified of the incident at 12.50.
The «wildest attractions»
The accident happened on the roller coaster «Cobraen», which the park refers to as one of its «wildest rides».
– Around 1 pm, an accident happened in the «Cobra». You sit together in six rows behind each other, and it is the back part that has broken and hangs under the rest of the train, says Henrik Ragborg Olsen, who is director of Tivoli Friheden.
All guests are asked to leave the amusement park immediately afterwards.
– We have emptied the park and offer psychological help to those who were in the vicinity of the accident. Both employees and guests, says Olesen to Danmarks Radio
Witnesses who have information about the incident can be contacted by the East Jutland Police on telephone 114 in Denmark.
The “Cobra” extends over 400 meters and is at its highest 25 meters above the ground. It takes 100 seconds.
I 2008 four people were injured after a similar accident in the same roller coaster.