Sponsored by
Dipper crash family set to sue
A FAMILY, injured when the Big Dipper crashed at the Pleasure Beach, say they plan to sue for compensation.
Shopkeeper Zahid Sha-feez, 45, watched in horror from the ground with his wife Selha as two cars on the historic rollercoaster collided last month, leaving riders trapped in carriages 20ft above the ground.
The couple, from Manchester, were helpless as their two sons – Zain, 13 and Sohaib, 12 – were in the second car.
Mrs Shafeez says she fainted with worry.
Both boys suffered bruising to their knees in the crash, which saw 21 people taken to hospital and an investigation launched by the Health and Safety Executive. It is not yet known what caused the crash.
Firefighters and paramedics had to launch a major emergency operation, including climbing the 20ft up to the carriages stuck on the ride to treat passengers.
Two casualties had to be rescued by the fire service's specialist rope rescue team.
Mr Shafeez, from Blackley in Manchester, said after his sons were taken to hospital to be checked over, they were given painkillers and discharged.
But he claims he has not been contacted by Pleasure Beach owners since the accident and had no satisfactory response to his complaint when he phoned the company.
Mr Shafeez said: "We're considering legal action because we have not been contacted by anyone.
"It was terrible to be on the ground watching it happen and the rescue. I was so worried for my sons and for my wife, who fainted.
"Fortunately, they were not badly injured, but they are children and this should not have happened.
"I expected someone from the Pleasure Beach to contact us, but it has not happened so far."
His son, Sohaib, said: "We were very frightened. Lots of people were shouting and screaming. Both me and my brother had badly bruised knees. We were in the middle of the car, so we were lucky."
The Big Dipper, built in 1921 and able to travel at speeds of up to 35mph, has been closed since the incident, which took place on Tuesday, August 12.
A Pleasure Beach spo-kesman said: "It isn't appropriate for us to comment on individual cases."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 27 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
