Six theme park rides in the UK similar to the one that caused the death of a man in Ohio at the weekend have been taken out of use.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued an Enforcement Notice to the operators of five of the rides, called the KMG Afterburner.

All five have been ordered to be keep their machines out of use until the notices have been complied with.

The operator of the other ride took the decision to take it out of use and has agreed to keep it dormant until action has been taken over the other five.

Tyler Jarrell, an 18-year-old high school student, died and seven others were injured after passengers were hurled from the Fire Ball ride, on the opening day of the Ohio State Fair.


A graphic video circulated on Twitter showed the ride swinging from side to side before parts of it appeared to break off, hurling passengers through the air.

It left three of the injured in a critical condition.

The Fire Ball was the name of the KMG Afterburner ride used at the fair.

The HSE said in a statement the five UK rides subject to enforcement notices were at:

Pleasurewood Hills, Lowestoft, Suffolk

Ryan Crow Amusements, the North East

Coney Beach Fair, Porthcawl, South Wales

Joseph Manning, Hertfordshire

Brean Theme Park, Somerset.

Image: A video showed people being hurled from the malfunctioning ride. Pic: Bruce Lamm/@OntheLamm/Reuters

A HSE spokesperson said: "HSE is aware of the tragic accident involving the KMG Afterburner (themed as Fire Ball) machine in Ohio on 26 July.

"There are six machines of this version operating in UK which were all thoroughly inspected within the last 12 months in line with agreed procedures.

"There is no verified information regarding the immediate cause of the US accident. Following the incident, HSE initiated a re-inspection of these machines.

"As a result, on Friday 28 July an Enforcement Notice was served on five of the machines, which are now to be taken out of use until the notices have been complied with.

"The sixth, at Lightwater Valley in North Yorkshire, was immediately taken out of use following the incident in Ohio.

"This was a decision taken independently by the operator. Lightwater Valley has agreed to keep this machine out of use until the other five notices have been complied with.

"HSE will ensure operators are kept abreast of information as it arrives and will take such action as is necessary to ensure the rides are inspected and tested as necessary to ensure safety."

The HSE stressed that none of the theme parks had been told to close.

It is understood that KMG, a Dutch fairground attraction manufacturer, has sent a letter to operators of all similar machines in Great Britain.

HSE said some of the operators of unaffected machines may have closed rides as a precaution.

A spokesman for Lightwater Valley told the Teeside Gazette: "While there are fundamental and significant differences between our ride and the one involved in this terrible incident we entirely support the Health and Safety Executive's decision to not operate these types of ride in Great Britain until all the facts are known and a comprehensive investigation has taken place."

A spokesman for Brean Theme Park told the Devon Live website: "Safety is our top priority and we stopped the ride on the day of the accident. It will be stopped until we hear from the manufacturers and the powers that be."

Coney Fair owner Pat Evans told Wales Online: "Our actions were pre-emptive and done entirely in the interests of public safety which, at all times, is our paramount priority.

Manning's Amusements said: "The safety of our customers is, of course, of paramount importance to us. We confirm that, as a precaution, the Afterburner ride that was being operated by us was immediately taken out of service pending a full investigation being carried out."