Theme-park nightmare: Riders rescued after hanging 15 metres above ground

Firefighters rescued all passengers from a Wipeout roller coaster after it stopped on the track about 15 metres above the ground at Pleasurewood Hills theme park in Lowestoft.

The carriages had not overturned, and passengers remained secured by their safety belts while crews worked at the ride. Firefighters used an aerial ladder and a scissor lift to take them safely to the ground. No injuries were reported.

The ride has operated since 2007 and is described as the tallest and most extreme attraction in East Anglia. It stands more than 40 metres high and can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour.

The roller coaster reportedly stopped again in July 2024. A park representative described that incident as a temporary interruption and said passengers returned to the station and disembarked within 22 minutes. In 2017, firefighters rescued a man from the ride after another breakdown.

“

It is important to note that the safety system on the roller coaster operated as designed and at no point was any visitor put at risk.