A THEME park employee who was struck by a rollercoaster ride and seriously injured was last night poorly but stable in hospital.

Emrullio Akel suffered broken arms and chest and abdominal injuries in the accident at Flamingo Land, near Malton, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday.

Mr Akel, from Whitby, is being treated at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where his condition was initially described by staff as critical.

The 32-year-old, a seasonal worker at the adventure park, was struck by a car on the Magnum Force triple looping rollercoaster.

He had been helping passengers to get on and off the ride and make sure they were safely fastened in.

It is understood he was struck as he tried to jump across the tracks as the rollercoaster was coming to the end of the ride.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an investigation into the accident, which happened when the park was packed with families on the school half-term holiday.

The rollercoaster - one of the star attractions at Flamingo Land - was sealed off and closed to the public while initial investigations took place.

However, the HSE confirmed that from early yesterday afternoon it had cleared the £3.5m ride to re-open.