Carla Knight Dies From Heart Attack After Riding Maelstrom Rollercoaster

Woman Dies From Heart Attack After Rollercoaster Ride

A woman has collapsed and died after going on a white-knuckle ride at a theme park.

Carla Knight, 42, from Barwell in Leicestershire, suffered a cardiac arrest after going on the Maelstrom ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire on Friday.

Colin Bryan, managing director at the theme park, said in a statement: "On Friday, a woman aged 42 was at the park enjoying a day out when sadly, having left the Maelstrom ride, she passed away after having a cardiac arrest.

Carla Knight who suffered a cardiac arrest at Drayton Manor Theme Park on Friday

"The on-site first aid team and all emergency services acted quickly as well as an off-duty doctor who assisted immediately.

"Our wishes and thoughts are with her family and friends at this devastating time."

Ms Knight, thought to be a mother-of-two, was on a day out at the Tamworth theme park when she decided to go on the Maelstrom ride that propels riders, seated on a spinning gondola, 72ft (22m) into the air on a giant gyro-swing.

One witness told The Sun newspaper that the ride was stopped to get Ms Knight off so she could be given medical treatment.

The Maelstrom ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park

Lissy Goodyear, 17, told the newspaper: "I saw the paramedics trying to get her heart rate back by doing CPR. They stopped the ride to get her off and put her on the floor. I don't think there was much they could do."

Liz McGinn, communications manager at Staffordshire Police, said: "We were called to a report of a collapsed woman at Drayton Manor Park just after 11.35am on Friday August 3.

Officers attended and sadly, colleagues from the ambulance service confirmed the woman had died. We can confirm there are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for Her Majesty's Coroner."

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