Waterpark tragedy as father, 35, is killed and his three-year-old daughter injured when 60ft inflatable raft is sent flying 150ft by powerful gust of wind in France

• Tragedy struck at Wonderland Waterpark in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume 
• The victims suffered cardiac arrests after they were thrown some 150ft by gust
• Both were resuscitated and airlifted to Marseille hospitals but father later died 

A man was killed and his daughter seriously injured in a shocking waterpark incident which saw their inflatable raft swept into the air amid high winds and tossed some 150ft in France yesterday.

The tragedy unfolded at the Wonderland Waterpark in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, in France’s southern Var region, when the 35-year-old father and his three-year-old were riding the 60ft-long raft on one of the park’s largest features.

Wonderland had recently reopened after works but the area was subject to weather warnings due to the powerful winds, and one gust lifted the raft out of the water and violently threw it across the park. 

The victims landed about 150ft away and suffered cardiac arrests.

Emergency services were able to resuscitate both father and daughter and airlifted them to a hospital in Marseille where they were placed in intensive care.

But the father later on Sunday night died from his injuries. His daughter is still in critical condition. 

Wonderland Waterpark in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, in France’s southern Var region

In the aftermath of the incident, town mayor Alain Decanis took to social media to make a statement condemning the park’s lack of safety and paying tribute to the deceased.

‘On Sunday afternoon, when I learned that an accident had occurred in Wonderland Park in Saint-Maximin, I immediately went to the scene,’ he said.

‘I was able to gauge the severity of the situation for a father and his little girl at once. The inflatable structure they were in was lifted then carried away by a gust of wind and violently projected 50 metres away.

‘Firefighters and other rescuers arrived very quickly to the scene, but the situation was already critical when the two victims were airlifted to hospitals in Marseille.

‘I was hoping for a positive outcome, however, and it was with great sadness that I learned late in the evening that Dad did not survive.

‘How could a water park that was accepted on communal territory to bring joy and happiness to children turn into a device of death that terrorised an entire family?  

‘Tonight I want to offer my most sincere condolences to the mother who was present at the scene, who showed remarkable courage, and to all members of the family. the family.

‘All my thoughts go out to them tonight.’

Decanis added that prosecutors had opened an investigation into the incident. 

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