Drayton Manor: Emergency services called over serious incident on Splash Canyon ride

Popular attraction carries people down water run in six-seater boats

Police vehicle at Drayton Manor Theme Park responding to the incident (PA)

An 11-year-old girl has been airlifted to hospital following reports she fell from a water ride in Drayton Manor theme park.

A river rapids ride has been shut down while paramedics, police and an air ambulance deal with an emergency in Tamworth Staffordshire.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 2:18pm after reports of a child falling into the water and arrived within seven minutes.

Those who were on the rapids-style ride at the time were apparently stuck while emergency services responded to the situation.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was "called to reports of a patient in the water".

"An ambulance, a senior paramedic officer, a paramedic area support officer, a rapid response paramedic, a community first responder and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Staffordshire were sent to the scene. The first resource was on scene within seven minutes," they said in a statement.

The girl, who is from the Leicester area, has been taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the extent of her injuries are currently unknown.

The theme park's website states the ride features up to 21 boats, all of which can carry up to six people.

It is open to anyone who is at least 0.9m (3ft) tall, although those under 1.1m must be accompanied by an adult.

The description on the website reads: "Swerve around corners, splash through the waves, and get soaked as your boat is swept along our fast-flowing rapids. No two experiences are ever the same.

"...You'll feel like you're in the middle of the jungle as you speed, bounce, and splash your way around our river, past other rides and through the trees, experiencing the most unpredictable and thrilling of river rapid rides. It's called Splash Canyon for a reason."

A spokesman for Drayton Manor told the Tamworth Herald: “The Splash Canyon ride has been closed following an incident this afternoon. Emergency services are at the scene and our fully trained park staff are assisting.”