Minor incident on Madrid rapid river Los Rápidos
Two full boats became stuck on Los Rápidos at Parque de Atracciones de Madrid. One boat pushed the other down, water poured in, visitors jumped to the side and no one was injured.
More context
Los Rápidos drew attention in July 2011 because of a frightening moment on the water. According to Looopings, two full boats became stuck on a Monday afternoon in the rapid river at Parque de Atracciones de Madrid. The situation then escalated quickly: one boat pushed the other down, causing it to take on water. Riders had to jump to the side in a hurry to get out of the dangerous situation. The report does not give a technical cause for the blockage, but it does state that everyone on board escaped without injuries.\n\nFor visitors and theme park fans, this was mainly a safety incident that showed how vulnerable a rapid river can become when boats bunch up. Los Rápidos was not making headlines because of a new opening or a record, but because a familiar water ride suddenly turned into an emergency. Looopings also placed the event in a wider park context by referring to an earlier comparable incident at Walibi Belgium. That made the news more than a small local mishap in Madrid: it became another reminder that this type of attraction carries risks that operators have to take seriously.