A man has been paralysed after breaking his neck in a freak funfair accident at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Robert Sycamore, 58, was injured while riding on a 50mph roller coaster and is now on a life support machine.
Firefighters had to free him from the ride and he was rushed to the Royal Preston Hospital.Mr Sycamore, who was visiting the resort with his family. chose the 70-year-old Grand National wooden roller coaster as the first ride of the day.
But as he and great nephew Harry Parlour, 13, sped along, his body became limp and he slumped into the cart.It is understood former JCB driver Robert suffered from spondylitis, an inflammation of the vertebrae in the back.
His nephew Darren Parlour said: “We don’t know how it happened or why it happened.
“We don’t blame anyone, we are just shocked. We don’t know if he hit his head, only time will tell.
“The surgeon said they can only take things minute by minute but any use of his body is a definite no.
“My son was with him and he’s come back screaming. Rob’s a big bloke and he was down in the footwell of the carriage.
“His ear was on his shoulder and he was totally blue and black, his neck snapped. The muscles collapsed and he’s just melted into the seat.
“The emergency services were unbelievable. How he stayed alive, I don’t know.”The family now face a 700-mile round trip to visit stricken Robert in hospital after the accident last Friday.
The wooden twin-track roller coaster is one of three of its kind in the world and opened in 1935.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach insists the ride, which sees carts on parallel tracks compete with each other, is safe and there have been no faults or problems this year.
A spokesperson for the fair said: “There was an incident on the Grand National in which Richard Sycamore required emergency treatment from the emergency services.
“We do wish Mr Sycamore the earliest recovery and we are in contact with his family.
“Our enquiries have not revealed any faults or problems with the ride which has carried almost 500,000 guests in 2014 without incident.
“We do now understand that Mr Sycamore had an underlying back condition
