A New Jersey waterpark was closed after a large decorative helicopter fell from the ceiling into the swimming pool, injuring four people.
The incident occurred at the American Dream Mall DreamWorks Water Park on February 19.
Four people were treated with non-life-threatening injuries after the helicopter detached from the ceiling and landed in the pool. Only one of those injured was taken to a nearby hospital. The park was evacuated.
Lisa Ryan, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, said that the following day, the state agency’s construction office had issued a “notice of unsafe operations” to the structure housing the waterpark.
The agency’s Amusement Ride Safety Unit issued “an order to cease operations” within the waterpark “until all investigations are complete, all relevant third-party inspection reports and supporting documentation have been received and reviewed, and a determination into the cause of the failure can be assessed.”
American Dream spokeswoman Jessica Griffin said in a statement, ““The safety of our guests is our highest priority. All appropriate security measures have been taken; the park is secured for the duration of the investigation. Additionally, our guest services team is onsite to provide guidance to those whose visits were impacted by yesterday’s event.”
She added: “We voluntarily suspended operations immediately following yesterday’s event and remain in lockstep with the state as we continue to coordinate on the investigation to ensure all safety regulations and requirements are met before reopening the DreamWorks Water Park.”
The park’s closure coincided with Presidents Day, when business was expected to be brisk with parents and children looking for activities.
Decorative helicopter falls in pool, New Jersey. Photo Credit: Pix 11 News