Blackpool rollercoaster breaks down forcing thrill-seekers to climb down 62ft ride
ABOUT 30 people had to climb down a rollercoaster in Blackpool after the ride broke down this afternoon.
Blackpool: Big One rollercoaster passengers climb down track
The wooden, twin-track Grand National ride, built in 1935, broke down at midday. Staff at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach attraction had to climb up the ride, which stands 62 feet (19m) high, to escort terrified thrill-seekers back to the ground.
A five-year-old boy was among those who had to be rescued from the rollercoaster.
Steve Ely, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, who was with his two children, tweeted a photo of himself stuck on the ride.
He also criticised the attraction and said all customers were given in compensation was a bottle of water and tickets that could not be used.
An eyewitness waiting to get on the ride said his children were "devastated" that it was stopped while the problem was dealt with.
The ride reopened around an hour later.
At about the same time, another rollercoaster - the Big One - also temporarily ground to a halt.
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However riders were able to remain seated and the ride continued five minutes later.
It comes after people had to be escorted from the rollercoaster after it broke down in April.
A witness told LancsLive: "It looked like they were going to have to head all the way down like they did a couple of months back.
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Broke down at top of grand national ride with a 5 year old who’s scared of nights! Compensation = a bottle of water ������������ @Pleasure_Beach pic.twitter.com/3A4g0FoUdu
— steve ely⚪️ (@ely_steven) June 1, 2021
"Fortunately two staff climbed up, flicked something and got it going again."
A spokesman for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said: "At 11.55 am on Tuesday June 1 a stoppage occurred on the lift hill of the Grand National.
"All riders were safely escorted down the lift hill, and the ride was checked and re-opened just before 1pm
"Shortly afterwards there was a very brief stoppage on the Big One lift hill, at 50ft, riders remained seated and the ride continued after five minutes."