A number of Merlin attractions have closed their river rapids rides, following the death of 11-year-old Evha Jannat, who was killed at Drayton Manor on Tuesday after falling off its version of the ride into the water.

Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Legoland Windsor have all shut down their own versions of the river rapids ride as a precaution because they had the same manufacturer as Drayton Manor’s Splash Canyon – Swiss engineering firm Intamin.

"We're aware of the tragic events at Drayton Manor and our thoughts are with the family and all of those affected,” said a Merlin statement.

"Safety is our number one priority and, as a precautionary measure, the river rapids will be closed today and until such time as more details of the incident become available."

According to reports, the girl stood up to swap seats when the bumper boat hit a rock. It is thought she hit her head and fell into the rough waters. The police have said a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation has begun.

First debuted 1980 at the since-closed AstroWorld theme park, this type of ride hit the headlines for the wrong reasons last year, when four people in Australia died on the Thunder River Rapids at Dreamworld in Australia. In that instance, the conveyor belt system returning the passengers to the station malfunctioned, causing their raft to be flipped upside down. The Drayton Manor ride has been in operation since 1993.

“The tragic events on Tuesday have shaken the whole Drayton Manor family from the Board, through to staff and visitors,” said a Drayton Manor statement, with the park remaining closed to the public until Friday (12 May) to allow the HSE to complete their work.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the family and all those who have been affected by Tuesday’s incident,” concluded the statement.

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