update: cultus lake waterpark closes temporarily after 12 children injured
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police are on site at cultus lake waterpark monday after an incident left a dozen people with injuries.
bill keay
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cultus lake waterpark update, tuesday june 16: click here to read the latest developments in this story, including one father’s account of his daughter’s electrocution and the indefinite closure of the park.
a dozen children were taken to hospital on monday with serious injuries after an incident at cultus lake waterpark.
management at the water park confirmed a “serious incident” occurred shortly after 11 a.m. in the queuing area near one of its rides.
“we are deeply saddened by the incident which occurred today resulting in injuries to a number of guests visiting the park, including children,” said a statement posted on the company’s website and on social media.
the statement went on to say the water park would be closed for the next 48 hours “to conduct a thorough and independent investigation.”
“we are fully cooperating with the authorities through the process of investigation and assessment. we are determined to ensure that something like this does not happen within our facility again.”
postmedia has been unable to confirm reports by cultus lake area media that the incident involved electrical burns.
however, b.c. hydro told postmedia that one of its crews was sent to the water park and found that “the electrical issue originated on the customer’s side of the electrical service” and not within b.c. hydro’s infrastructure or equipment.
“we’re continuing to work cooperatively with the water park operator and will support the ongoing investigation in any way we can,” the statement read.
according to cpl. carmen kiener of the chilliwack rcmp, first responders were sent to the water park at 11:20 a.m.
police initially said the injured included 10 children and two adults, but it was later said a dozen children had been taken to hospital.
“all injured parties are reported to be stable with serious injuries and are being transported to hospital for further medical treatment,” kiener said in an email.
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chilliwack rcmp said monday evening police were working with worksafebc to investigate the cause of the incident: “at this time, there is no indication that the event was caused by a person, and investigators do not believe it to be the result of deliberate human action.”
in a statement, coquitlam school district spokesperson ken hoff confirmed the majority of those injured were students from port coquitlam’s minnekhada middle school — which has students in grades 6 through 8 — who were at the water park for a field trip.
“eleven students are being assessed for unspecified injuries and all are in stable condition,” said hoff.
“we have no information on the nature of the injuries or the cause at this time, as this is currently being investigated.”
in a statement on x, port coquitlam mayor brad west confirmed the city was “ready to support affected families in any way” it could.
“as a dad, my heart goes out to the students and families affected. there are few things more frightening than receiving a call that your child has been hurt while away from you on a school trip,” he wrote.
b.c. emergency health services confirmed they were called just after 11 a.m. about the incident in the 4100-block of columbia valley road in chilliwack.
“multiple resources, including several ambulances with primary care paramedics, an ambulance and response unit with advanced care paramedics, two air ambulances with critical care paramedics, a link and referral unit, a paramedic supervisor and an area manager responded,” said bcehs spokesman brian twaites.
“paramedics provided emergency medical care to a total of 12 patients. two were transported to hospital by air ambulance. ten other patients were transported to hospital by ground ambulance.”
roads heading into the area were closed monday to allow for first responders to access the site before later being reopened at 12:30 p.m.
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technical safety b.c. confirmed late monday that the incident was being investigated. the agency is responsible for overseeing the operation of equipment and systems that are subject to safety rules, including the investigation of any incidents involving amusement devices like zip lines, roller coasters and waterslides.
“safety officers have been dispatched to the site to conduct a thorough assessment,” said a spokesperson in an email.
june is typically a busy time for school field trips to the water park, and the incident took place just two weeks before minnekhada school was set to wrap up for the summer on june 25.
in a post to stein valley nlakapamux school’s facebook page on monday, principal kenneth mcgillivray confirmed that the school had a group at the water park when the incident occurred but that none of its students were involved.
“this tragedy is in the news, but we wanted to assure the parents and guardians that the svns students and staff are safe. if you have any questions please contact the school directly,” he wrote.
cultus lake waterpark features more than 25 different slides and attractions, including vertical-drop body slides, a lazy river, and tube slides.
field trip bookings for the water park this week are sold out for thursday and friday, as well as monday, tuesday, wednesday of next week.
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