A preliminary investigation into an incident at a B.C. water park that sent a dozen children to hospital on Monday has found “electrical non-compliances” at the site.
The update came Wednesday from Technical Safety B.C. (TSBC), the independent regulator that oversees technical products, equipment, systems and railways, which is probing the incident at the Cultus Lake Waterpark.
“Given the regulated electrical and amusement device equipment involved in this incident, our safety officers are currently on-site conducting a thorough assessment,” TSBC said in a statement to CBC News.
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“In order for the park to reopen, we will need to conduct further investigation, and the park owner will need to correct all hazards. As a result, the waterpark remains closed with no timeline for reopening.”
Criminality not suspected after 12 kids sent to hospital in electrical incident at B.C. water park
Twelve children aged 12 to 13 were taken to hospital on Monday after an incident at the park left them with what the TSBC described as “electrical burn injuries.”
On Tuesday, the RCMP said the incident did not appear criminal in nature, but that “all avenues” were still being investigated.
On Monday, Andrew Steunenberg, the water park’s chief administrative officer, said an “electrical” incident had occurred as children were lining up for the Zero to 60 Raceway, a five-lane slide where people can race each other to the bottom using slip-and-slide carpets.
On the company’s website, it specified that the incident appeared to have involved a “steel frame tent structure with handrails.”
Officials have yet to provide an update on the condition of the students, most of whom were on a field trip from Minnekhada Middle School.
Two of the children were airlifted to hospital, and at the time police described the injuries as “serious but stable.”
CBC News has asked Cultus Lake Waterpark about the TSBC update as well as when its electrical system was last inspected, but has yet to receive a response.
In a statement on its website on Tuesday, the park said it was co-operating with investigators, and would remain closed until it receives approval from regulators.
