 AN AMUSEMENT park worker who died after his chest and shoulder were crushed in a cable car ride may have been pulled into the machinery by his safety harness. The 55-year-old man, who has not been named, is believed to have suffered a heart attack after he became trapped in the 30-year-old Sky Ride at Pleasureland in Southport yesterday. Staff at the seafront amusement park are said to be devastated after the death of their colleague, who was carrying out routine checks before the park opened. Investigations have been launched by Pleasureland and the Health and Safety Executive, but police say there are no suspicious circumstances. Emergency services were called to the site at 10am after reports that a worker was stuck on the ride, which has 17 ski lift-type cars. Firefighters spent 45 minutes freeing the man from the ride, which runs 30ft above the ground. Fire service spokesman Alex McDougal said: "We received a call from the ambulance service at 10.15am and we removed the body at 11am. "We believe he was caught in the machinery which crushed his chest and shoulder, and he subsequently suffered a heart attack. "He was wearing full safety gear and that is what got caught in the machinery." The park opened after the body was recovered, but the ride remains closed. A Pleasureland spokeswoman said: "A mechanical engineer was carrying out daily ride checks on the Sky Ride, an aerial cable-car, when an incident occurred, resulting in a fatality. "The Sky Ride will remain closed while a full investigation takes place. "At this moment, our thoughts are with his family. "The man had worked with us for four years and was well experienced in checking rides and carrying out daily safety checks." In April this year, four people were left stranded on the same ride after it broke down. | 
News RSS Feed