The student who was injured on Lightwater Valley's new white-knuckle ride has died.

Gemma Louise Savage, 20, from Wath-on-Dearne, near Rotherham, suffered head and spinal injuries on the theme park's Treetop Twister, when two cars on the ride ran into each other on Wednesday.

Gemma, a student at Durham University and living on the Stockton campus, was pronounced dead today in Leeds General Infirmary, 24 hours after the incident.

The theme park was closed yesterday as a mark of respect and Health and safety investigators were continuing to probe the incident.

Gemma was treated and stabilised by North Yorkshire ambulance crews until she could be taken by air ambulance from the theme park near Ripon to Leeds General Infirmary in just ten minutes.

Three men, all believed to have been in their late teens or 20s, were also hurt in the accident and taken by ambulance to Harrogate District Hospital. All three were discharged today.

Two suffered abdominal injuries, with one of them also thought to have broken an arm. The other man is understood to have suffered whiplash.

The ride, which has been described as a "hair-raising cross between a rollercoaster and a waltzer," was only opened last month by girl band The Honeyz.

The ride was immediately closed after the accident, and the HSE has served a prohibition notice preventing it from re-opening until it the executive gives permission.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact 01423 539312.

An inquest is expected to be opened and adjourned in the next few days.

Updated: 17:04 Thursday, June 21, 2001