Roller Coaster Malfunctions in Suffolk, Leaving 27 Visitors Suspended 15 Metres Above Ground for Two Hours

An unusual incident occurred on Monday at Pleasurewood Hills amusement park in Lowestoft, Suffolk, where 27 people, including children, were left stranded at a height of around 15 metres for more than two hours.

The incident began shortly before 1:30 p.m., when the “Wipeout” ride suffered a technical malfunction and the train suddenly stopped on the tracks. All the passengers remained in the carriages, in an upright position, while emergency crews immediately began the evacuation operation.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was alerted immediately and dispatched crews from three different stations. Specialist equipment, including aerial ladders and a lifting platform, was used to bring the visitors down one by one.

After nearly two and a half hours of intensive work, the entire operation was completed at 4:05 p.m. All 27 people were brought to safety and no one was injured. A service spokesperson confirmed that all passengers had been safely brought back to the ground using specialist equipment and that there were no injuries.

Ironically, the “Wipeout” attraction had only recently undergone a £1 million refurbishment during the 2024/25 period. The upgrades included a new train fitted with lap restraints designed to improve visitor safety and comfort.

However, this is not the first time the attraction has experienced problems. In 2017, it stopped operating following torrential rain, leaving several people stranded at its highest point and forcing firefighters to intervene to evacuate an injured person.