Major update after teen killed on 70mph ‘Adrenaline’ slingshot ride as theme park manager breaks silence

THE manager of Luna Park where a teenager was tragically killed has broken his silence with a major update.

A 17-year-old, known only as Sammy, died at the theme park in Cap D’Agde, southern France, after suspected high winds rocked the ‘Adrenaline’ slingshot ride on Sunday.

A 19-year-old woman was also injured when both fell 180ft and is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering multiple traumas.

An investigation has been opened and four people, including the park's manager, were taken into custody for questioning.

The park’s manager Pierrick Pubil told : “Since the start of my police custody, I have only thought of the families.

“The little ones. It haunts me. The evil is there. It will mark me for life"

He added that he had never seen an accident on the Adrenaline ride previously.

Pubil also announced that the ride would be permanently closed, “if only out of respect for the little ones”.

He said that once the authorities allowed it, the ride would be dismantled.

The manager added that he would pay for the funeral.

He said: “We will do everything we need but it will never be enough. It is a pain that we will always have in our hearts.”

Local prosecutor Raphael Balland said at the time: ";Two people were victims of an accident while using the Adrenaline attraction.

"An adolescent aged 17 died of his injuries and a young woman of 19 was taken to hospital at Montpellier as an absolute emergency (case)."

Balland said that the teenagers struck obstacles as they plunged from the cable swing ride, which is believed to reach speeds of 70mph.

An investigation has been opened and four people, including the theme park manager, were taken into custody to be questioned by police.

They have since been released as the investigation continues.

Cap d'Adge mayor Gilles d'Ettore said that Saturday night had been very windy, which was "very rare for Agde".

The "Adrenaline" attraction involves passengers strapping into harnesses and being winched 180ft into the air.

They are then released to swing on the cable at high-speeds.

Witnesses told local media sources that the cable had deviated from its usual path, which led to the riders allegedly hitting the metal pylon that holds the attraction up and then being ejected from their harnesses.

The investigation is ongoing.

Local news outlet, Midi Libre, reported that a man received stitches in hospital after grazing his head on the ground after riding on "Adrenaline" in 2019.

In 2015 at the same park, a young couple were thrown from a slingshot ride when it snapped mid-air.