72ft Essex rollercoaster breaks down leaving passengers hanging
Thrill-seekers were left suspended at 90-degree angle for up to 40 minutes on the Southend rollercoaster 'Rage'
Last updated 29th Jul 2023
Thrill-seekers on the 72ft-high got more thrill than they were seeking after 'Rage' rollercoaster in Southend broke down on Friday afternoon.
Videos on social media showed riders of Rage at theme park Adventure Island, in Southend, stuck at a near 90-degree angle facing the sky on Friday afternoon.
The park said the rescue operation to remove those on the carriage was completed within 40 minutes.
Rage is advertised as Adventure Island's "biggest and best" rollercoaster - with "loops, twists, and flat-out speeds".
Marc Miller, managing director of the Stockvale Group - which runs Adventure Island, said: "Just after 2pm today, a carriage on Rage stopped on the lift.
"Our highly trained team immediately initiated our ride evacuation plan, which has been certified by the Health and Safety Executives and Essex Fire and Rescue.
"All passengers were returned to the ground, safe and sound and reunited with their families within 40 minutes."
Hear the latest news on Downtown on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.