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Three children are seriously hurt in hospital this morning after a rollercoaster flew off the rails and crashed at a theme park.

Five other kids and two adults were also injured after a carriage shot off at 40mph and plummeted onto a children’s ride below.

Horrified families tried to free people from the wreckage of the Tsunami ride at M&D’s in Motherwell at around 3.30pm yesterday afternoon.

Today its website confirmed that the whole theme park is "closed until further notice". A joint investigation by Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive is underway.

It is believed around nine people were on the ride - which can travel at speeds of up to 65kmph through corkscrew twists, turns and loops - at the time.

(Image: SWNS) (Image: Snapchat)

One witness, who asked not to be named, said: “It was an unbelievable sight, seeing the full carriage upside down, on top on where those toddlers cars are parked.

“It was difficult to see anyone under the wreckage though and everyone around just seemed like they couldn’t quite take it what they were seeing.

“The place was eerily silent as everyone was in total shock.

"A group of dads were trying to tip the rollercoaster carriage over to get access to the kids who were trapped inside but the thing was solid.

“When the reality of the situation struck everyone, there were kids in floods of tears and adults desperately trying to find their loved ones amid the chaos, with hundreds of people either trying to make their way to the exits or to offer their help at the scene."

(Image: SWNS)

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Around two dozen park visitors struggled to fix the carriage which ended up upside down and leaving riders trapped.

Paul McFadden told Mirror Online he tried to help an 11-year-old boy whose hand was crushed after the crash.

He said: "He was lying on his back in the carriage, I think his right hand is really bad or he's even lost it.

"I want to find out if he's okay. He was in pain. I was also trying to help a young girl who was upside down.

"I just want to know if they're alright. It was so scary."

(Image: Snapchat)

The scene was described as “carnage” by a shocked eye-witness.

Paisley Daily Express reporter Gavin McNally was at M&D’s with his shocked children and said: “It was carnage.”

(Image: Katie Burns)

"There was definitely people on it, it was full - about 10 people.”

“Two dozen guys ran to help firefighters to get the carriage upright after it fell kids’ cars below - the type you put a few pounds in for a shot.”

Witness Katie Burns, 21, wrote on Facebook: "Literally got off the Tsunami at M&D's and then walking past and the next lot of people get on and the full thing goes off the tracks.

"Honestly never been so scared in my life with this weather they should not be on.

"Kids and adults are still on it upside down, it's like something out a horror film, children crying and everything.

"Literally can't believe this, my heart goes out to everyone on it, a full load came off the track but and on the pavement, like a horror film worse thing ever heard and seen, can't get over this."

She added to the Mirror Online: “There was a little boy about eight in front of it person from the park was trying to comfort him.

(Image: Facebook)

“A guy was trying to get his son out but he couldn’t so he just stood there not knowing what to do.

“It came right off the track, the carriages, the wheels, everything.

“The ride had nearly finished,it was coming to the end. It landed next to a kids ride with motorcycles.”

(Image: SWNS)

Another eye witness called Nik said: "I was waiting in line at another ride with my friend and their kids, we heard the crash and saw lots of people running and screaming.

"Was very scary for us and the kids. People were on the ground and lots of people crying.

"The ride was the most popular all day queues are always long."

Ben, who saw the crash, said: "The ride came crashing down and the security waddled over.

"Some kids got out quickly, unscathed.

"Others looked to be hurt. All the rides were then closed and most people headed for the exits. "

One spectator tweeted: "Tsunami roller coaster has left the tracks and crashed to the ground at M&Ds emergency services here attending so shocked."

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Another wrote: "The Tsunami just came off the rails at M&Ds. Absolute scenes. Kids look hurt!"

Karen Flyn tweeted: "Niece just evacuated from M&Ds theme park Glasgow Said Tsunami ride left the tracks. Possible people trapped?"

This footage shows a senior policeman describe the events at M&Ds this afternoon.

(Image: SWNS)

Chief Inspector David Bruce said: “Five gondolas connected in a train on the Tsunami ride have detached from the rails, struck the superstructure and then struck the ground.

“As a result of this accident, ten people have been injured.”

An investigation with the Health and Safety investigation has now been launched, he added.

Tsunami is Scotland’s only inverted rollercoaster.

It reaches speeds of up to 40 miles-per-hour, barrelling through corkscrew twists and loops.

Children under 10 are restricted from riding the Tsunami, and a minimum height restriction of 1.4m applies.

(Image: SWNS)





A spokesman for M&D’s said: “As a family-run business, our thoughts are with those who have been injured and their families.

"We wish everyone a full recovery. We are co-operating fully with Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive on their joint investigation.”

It is the eighth accident at the theme park in North Lanarkshire since 2011.

In July that year, nine people had to be rescued from Tsunami after being trapped for up to eight hours due to a mechanical failure.

No one was injured. It was classified “a dangerous occurrence” by the HSE.

In a Freedom of Information request in April, HSE confirmed only four of the seven accidents at the park, now closed until further notice, resulted in a probe and none in a prosecution.