Oakwood Theme Park removes its Drenched (Hydro) water ride after 20 years, following a history including a tragic accident.
The water ride cost a lot to build. People went way up high in a boat, then plunged almost straight down, crashing into the water below. The park called it Europe’s fastest, wettest coaster.
Oakwood said Drenched is done after 20 years and will share updates about 2025 later.
This comes after a girl’s death on the ride. Hayley Williams was sixteen years old and fell off Hydro almost eleven years ago on April 15, 2004, while visiting Oakwood with her family.
An inquest found she was not properly restrained and was thrown out mid-ride. She was airlifted to a hospital but died from internal injuries.
Another person, Martin Rothwell, got hurt on the same ride. He was ten years old and was hit by Hayley as she fell, resulting in head injuries. Oakwood admitted in 2008 that they failed to keep people safe, including Hayley and Martin.
The park was fined a quarter million pounds and the ride closed for a year after the incident. They renamed it Drenched in 2011.
Hayley’s family said she was loving, always smiling, and did nothing wrong. The park’s chief executive was very sorry and said thoughts were with the family. A Spanish company bought the park in 2008.