A TEENAGER who was flung from a inflatable doughnut-style dingy at New Forest Water Park near Fordingbridge yesterday, was airlifted to hospital.

The youngster is said to have been flung from the dingy at the Ringwood Road park at some speed with firefighters from Fordingbridge and Ringwood as well as a water rescue team from Eastleigh called to the incident around 1.30pm.

He is thought to have suffered from shoulder, neck and other upper body injuries, which, while not believed to be life-threatening, led to him being airlifted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The teenager was on a tyre being towed behind a boat around the resort’s 28-acre lake when the accident occurred.

Linda Jury, park owner, said it was the first time it had ever happened and added that the youngster had suffered a previous shoulder injury in a car accident just days previously.

The Park followed all required safety procedures and “there was nothing we could have done,” said Linda.

The resort has signs up warning people with injuries not to go on the ride she said.

She said: “It was just a routine tyre ride that we have been doing for 20 years.

He fell out awkwardly on a shoulder that he’d injured a week ago.

“He had a car accident and dislocated his shoulder but opted to go on the ride.

“It’s the first time anyone has ever fallen out. It was just one of those unfortunate things. They have handles to hold on to.

“People have to be 11 and above but he was older.”

The Park does not plan to alter or improve its safety regulations she added.

“We have an emphasis on family fun. We had a whole group of them here and they had a fantastic time and a barbecue afterwards,” she said.