Merlin parks close rapids after Drayton Manor death

Congo River Rapids at Alton Towers

Thorpe Park and Alton Towers have closed their rapids rides after an 11-year-old girl was killed at Drayton Manor yesterday.

The Intamin-manufactured Rumba Rapids and Congo River Rapids water rides are the same model as that from which Evha Jannath fell and died on Tuesday afternoon.

Operators Merlin Entertainments said the rides would be closed “until such a time as more details become available”.

The Alton Towers theme park was closed as scheduled on Wednesday and will re-open tomorrow.

Legoland Windsor – also under planned closure on Wednesday – operates a rapids ride manufactured by company ABC. It is not known if that will open with the rest of the park on Thursday.