Rumba Rapids


Rumba Rapids is a rapids ride at Thorpe Park, Chertsey, Surrey. It opened in 1987 under the name of Thunder River, and is the second oldest ride currently still in service at Thorpe Park. In 2002, it was refurbished and along with other improvements, its name was changed to Ribena Rumba Rapids because of its sponsor, Ribena. In 2006 Ribena's sponsorship contract ended and the ride was named simply Rumba Rapids for the 2007 season.

Accident

In the ride's opening year of 1987 a 7-year-old boy was thrown from a boat and lost an ear. The news was broken by Children's BBC TV news programme, Newsround.