Father breaks neck during ride on Blackpool Pleasure Beach's 80-year-old wooden rollercoaster

58-year-old JCB driver Robert Sycamore is on life support after an accident at the theme park.

By Dave Lancaster |

17:07 29 October 2014

A father has been left paralysed after his neck snapped while he was riding on a 80-year-old wooden rollercoaster in Blackpool.

Robert Sycamore was taking his great-nephew Harry on a ride when the incident occurred. Harry rent to get help and upon their return, Robert was found slumped at the bottom of the carriage.

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Service confirmed: 'We got a call to a male patient in his 50s at Blackpool Pleasure Beach with potential neck injuries.' 

Darren Parlour, the injured man's nephew, was quoted by The Daily Mail: '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.

'I climbed in with Rob and was holding his head so it didn't move.

'The emergency services were unbelievable - how he stayed alive, I dont know.

'The surgeon said they can only take things minute by minute but any use of his body is a definite no.

'The main concern now is keeping his heart and lungs going.

'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.'