Seven hurt after pool bursts at German theme park

STUTTGART - Seven people were injured on Monday in an accident at Germany's largest theme park, the Europa-Park near Freiburg in the southwest of the country, German news agency (dpa) quoted the police.

Five artists and two visitors were involved. Three of the acrobats were taken to hospital for checks, a spokeswoman announced in the evening.

According to a park spokesman, a pool had ruptured and attached diving towers had collapsed.

A mobile pool of the high-diving show named Retorno dos Piratas (Return of the Pirates in Portuguese) had ruptured during a performance, he said. The water had flowed into the lake of the water ride attraction Atlantica SuperSplash.

Platforms up to 25 metres high are mounted on the pool from which acrobats jump. The scaffolding collapsed because it lacked stability after the water escaped. Various parts of the scenery then floated in the pool of the water ride.

It was initially unclear where exactly the injured were at the time of the accident. The police said investigation was ongoing.

Retorno dos Piratas features high-diving acrobats who throw themselves from dizzying heights into the depths. Ten international athletes perform extraordinary stunts, including with fire, until Sept 3.

The Atlantica SuperSplash water ride should be back in operation shortly, the spokesman said. - BERNAMA