Civil Defense fines owner SR60,000 Fatima Muhammad Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — An amusement park in Jeddah where three girls were injured in an accident on Wednesday was closed down and its owner fined SR60,000, the city's Civil Defense chief said on Monday. “The decision is based on the public rights involved in the case. We are waiting for the medical records to decide on the private right of the three girls," Abdullah Jeddawi told Saudi Gazette. The three girls sustained moderate to severe injuries when they fell off the Octopus Ride at the amusement park. They suffered fractures and injuries to the head, legs and the pelvis. Their treatment is expected to take 3 to 6 months, according to medical reports. The girls' parents have said that they are planning to sue the owners of the park for compensation. Jeddawi said amusement parks were obliged to adhere to strict safety regulations, which are set out according to their location and space. “Large parks must have clinics and ambulances on their premises, while smaller ones must make arrangements with nearby medical establishments to deal with emergencies," he said. Jeddawi said there are regulations in place that specify distance and space between games. The rules also stipulate that the games are to be classified to suit the age and weight of children. Om Ragad, mother of one of the injured girls, said her daughter would have to receive treatment for no less than three months. She said Ragad was definitely going to miss classes as the schools are set to reopen. Recalling the accident, Om Ragad said her daughter “did not even have a chance to play the game when she was pushed hard and fell down bleeding." She said witnesses told her that a boy, who was not an employee of the park, was controlling the game. “There was general neglect of safety in the amusement park. It was the first time that we have been there and for sure it will be the last," she said. Om Ragad said her daughter and the other two victims were helped by visitors who comforted them and called the Red Crescent for assistance. “My daughter is badly affected emotionally by the accident," said Om Ragad, who lives in south Jeddah. Their house remains empty now as the mother and child live in hospital. Ragad's father works in north in Jeddah. The other two victims are from Yanbu and Riyadh and were visiting friends and relatives in Jeddah during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays.
