This is a very bad news indeed as a five years old child is very badly injured after an accident that happened wednesday afternoon at Disneyland Paris Pirates of Caribbean. According to Le Figaro newspaper article here is what happened.
The accident happened around 4.20 pm and the Seine et Marne Prefecture has confirmed the accident, saying that so far they have contradictory informations on the child condition. The young boy named Iban was transferred in emergency to Necker Child Hospital in Paris. Some hours ago the prognosis was extremely bad and it was announced that the young child was between life and death but just a few minutes ago it was announced that, thanks God, his life was out of danger which doesn't mean yet that he will recover in perfect condition.
It seems that the child who was doing the ride with his father fell over from the back of a POTC boat and then was hit by the next boat coming behind. The child was destabilized when the boat was moving to arrive at the load/unload station at the end of the ride, but before arriving to the unload station. "The child fell down and was blocked under the boat, under water" said Anne Chavarez the police chief in charge of the investigation "and was quickly removed by his father, other guests and DLP cast members who instantly sound the alert. Editing: the same police chief declared that "the child seems to don't have noticeable injuries" - at least outside but he might have been hurt inside his body by the weight of the boat after he fell down. More infos coming soon.
What you need to know is that generally the boats arriving at the end of the ride are stopped for a few seconds waiting the unload of guests from the boats ahead. Then the boat start to move again, a bit suddenly, and there is a small lift during which the boat goes up to the unload platform. Now, if you have a five years old child not sit in the boat and standing on the side instead than sitting in the center of the row then there is a real risk that what seems to have happened happen. Add to this that the boats may look light when you do the ride - because they're floating - but are in fact extremely heavy and you'll understand how dangerous it can be to fell down and be blocked under, specially if you're five years old. I don't know yet for sure if this is what exactly happened but considering that the accident happened at the end of the ride it might be the explanation of this terrible accident.
Although the ride itself is apparently not responsible for the accident, DLP management declared that the attraction "will be closed until further notice and we will fully collaborate with the authorities for their investigation". They added "We're deeply sad of the accident that happened this afternoon, and since we are at the side of the young Iban and his family".
Although others accident happened recently on others DLP attractions, including two on Big Thunder Mountain this is the first time that an accident happen at DLP Pirates of Caribbean. Disney and more wish to the young Iban the best possible recovery, as soon as possible. This accident also reminds us how important it is to have young children sit between their parents in the middle of a row and never on the sides of the boat, and that they stay sit until the complete stop of the boat.
Below, a video from the BFMTV News channel talking - in french - about the accident.
Pictures: copyright Disney
