Emergency crews rescued 27 passengers who became stranded on a rollercoaster at a Suffolk theme park on Bank Holiday Monday, with some enduring the ordeal for up to three hours suspended approximately 15 metres above the ground.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service responded to an incident at Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft after receiving a call at 13:36 BST. Crews from Ipswich East, Ixworth and Lowestoft South attended the scene, where firefighters deployed advanced rescue-at-height equipment to bring riders down one by one. All 27 passengers were safely evacuated by 17:10, and no injuries were reported.
The stricken ride was the Wipeout, the park's flagship attraction. A fire service spokesperson confirmed that the carriages came to a halt on the track while suspended in the air, but the ride did not flip upside down during the incident.
Park visitor Richard Lines was on another ride nearby when the incident unfolded. He described witnessing a power cut that appeared to affect multiple attractions across the venue.
You feel sorry for the ones that were either at the front or the back who were up there for a good three hours - which is a long time,Lines, from Wymondham in Norfolk, told reporters. He was at the park with his two children on what marked the final day of the summer season, with extended opening hours arranged to mark the occasion.
Despite the disruption, Lines remained positive about the venue.
It's still an amazing day for children [at the park] - I would never put the place down. It's nice to have nice local stuff in East Anglia.
What is Wipeout?
The Wipeout ride opened at Pleasurewood Hills in 2007 and was initially promoted as the tallest, fastest and most extreme attraction in East Anglia. According to the park's ride information, it stands over 40 metres (131 feet) tall and is described as the East Coast's biggest thrill ride. The attraction underwent a £1 million transformation during the winter of 2024-2025, which included installation of a new train featuring waist restraint lap bars designed to enhance both comfort and safety for passengers.
Has this happened before?
This is not the first time the Wipeout has experienced mechanical difficulties. In 2017, a man required rescue after the ride became stuck high on the track. According to reports from that incident, Suffolk Fire and Rescue determined the cause appeared to be a fault with the ride, and the passenger was taken to hospital following his rescue.
What happens next?
Pleasurewood Hills was approached for comment regarding the incident but had not issued a public statement at the time of reporting. The park's management will likely conduct a full investigation into the cause of the power failure and the circumstances that led to the ride's stoppage.
Key Facts:
- 27 passengers were rescued from the Wipeout rollercoaster at Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft on 1 September 2026
- Riders were suspended approximately 15 metres above the ground for up to three hours before being brought down safely by firefighters
- No injuries were reported among the rescued passengers
- The Wipeout is over 40 metres tall and underwent a £1 million safety upgrade in winter 2024-2025
- A similar incident occurred on the same ride in 2017, when mechanical failure required a rescue operation
