Skatepark thanks tourist who saved ramps from fire

A skatepark has praised the actions of a holidaymaker who alerted staff to a nearby fire and helped prevent it from spreading to the skate ramps.

Stuart Welstead was at Weymouth Sea Life in Dorset with his family on Sunday when he saw smoke coming from a nearby electricity substation.

After raising the alarm, Welstead - who is a skateboarder - rushed next door to the Front Skatepark where he helped staff pour water on the wooden ramps to stop them catching fire.

The skatepark's fence was damaged in the blaze and the charity-run attraction remained closed on Monday, however, it reopened for members on Tuesday for its 25th anniversary celebrations.

Welstead, from Staines in Surrey, said: "I've been a skateboarder for the last 25 years and I know of other skateparks that have burnt down in the past because they are all made of wood.

"If a fire took over the skatepark, it would be the end of it.

"They had just spent £20,000 rebuilding their ramps."

With the skatepark closed, Welstead tried the deliveries number on the side of the building and got hold of the charity's chairman, who arrived soon afterwards with his son.

He said: "They got a hose and buckets and we started getting water on to the ramps.

"It happened so fast. I was standing in the arcade about an hour later with a huge adrenaline dump."

Skatepark manager Lisa Kille said: "His quick alert to us helped to save our wooden ramps from catching fire, it was intense heat in very hot and dry conditions.

"We are so grateful to him and our trustees and staff for their quick actions.

"This could have been a whole lot worse but, thanks to the quick response of our amazing fire service crews, we are OK."

Fire crews were called at 15:45 BST on Sunday to the substation in Greenhill, on the seafront between the skatepark and aquarium.

About 100 homes lost power and more than 50 remained without electricity the following morning.

Weymouth Sea Life said it would reopen on Wednesday.

Centre manager Seb Webster said: "We do have some damage to our facilities yard and offices but nothing in terms of animals or anything that our guests or visitors would see.

"The team have been working incredibly hard over the last 48 hours, literally through the night, and we are pleased to be able to open this morning."

Kille said: "Our thoughts are with them and all they are doing to support the sea creatures and animals and, of course, their staff."

The skatepark marked its 25th anniversary on Tuesday with a members' event funded by the Portland Lions Club.