Teenage boy dies at Center Parcs after falling from skateboard

A teenage boy has died after falling from his skateboard at Center Parcs.

The tragic incident took place at Center Parcs’ Woburn Forest site in Bedford last Thursday.

The teenager was rushed to Bedford Hospital South Wing in an air ambulance but he died shortly after.

A Center Parcs spokesman said: “It is with great sadness that we confirm, following an incident at Center Parcs Woburn Forest, a guest tragically passed away last week.

“This is a distressing time and our thoughts are with their family and friends. At this time we are also supporting colleagues who assisted the emergency services and express our gratitude to both.”

The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed the teenager died after falling off his skateboard.

A spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 3.54pm on Thursday 26th October to Center Parcs Woburn Forest with reports that a teenage boy had fallen from his skateboard.

‘An ambulance, ambulance officer vehicle and a response car from the Magpas Air Ambulance were sent to the scene. The boy was transported to Bedford Hospital South Wing for treatment.’

It comes just a month after a member of staff died at the same Center Parcs after being hit by a car.

The woman was taken to hospital for treatment but died later the same day.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of one of our team at Woburn Forest, our thoughts are with her family, friends and her colleagues at this time”, a spokesperson for Center Parcs told The Independent at the time.

In June 2023, a woman in her 30s died following a medical incident at the Elveden Forest resort.

Suffolk Police were called to the site on Wednesday 7 June following reports of a medical emergency. The death was treated as unexplained.

In 2022, a four-year-old boy died at the Wiltshire resort on Christmas Eve. He was believed to have suffered a “serious medical incident” at a swimming complex in the holiday village at Longleat Forest. Center Parks UK said that its staff had provided “immediate assistance”.

A mother-of-five staying at the leisure complex at the time said the atmosphere was “very quiet” following the four-year-old’s death, and that the park’s TV channel was displaying a message that the pool was closed.

“Thankfully we didn’t see anything,” said the holidaymaker. “We noticed a big crowd all leaving the plaza, we were headed back to our lodge to have lunch before swimming.

“I checked my phone and saw the pool was closed due to an incident. The plaza is all open, the parc market, gift shops, etc, there is just a temporary barrier across the entrance to the pool itself.”