Rollercoasters are designed to give us a thrilling experience that leaves us holding onto our seats for dear life. But what happens when Mother Nature decides to throw a wrench in the plans? Recent reports have emerged of a terrifying experience on a 235ft tall rollercoaster as riders were suspended mid-climb due to strong winds from Storm Noa, which reached speeds of up to 70mph. This rollercoaster horror story highlights the dangers and unpredictability of extreme weather conditions when it comes to amusement parks, and the importance of safety measures to protect riders.
A group of amusement park attendees were left stranded on a rollercoaster as they were suspended mid-climb due to Storm Noa’s 70mph winds. As the rollercoaster climbed to its highest point, strong winds from the storm began to pick up and staff at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach resort were forced to stop the ride just seconds before it was set to reach its zenith. The Big One ride, which features a 235-foot drop at its peak, was halted indefinitely, and theme park staff were forced to climb the rollercoaster to rescue the riders who were stuck near the top at 2:50 pm.
Once staff reached the stranded riders, the passengers were seen holding on to the handrails on their way down the 400-step emergency stairs, according to the Blackpool Gazette. The rollercoaster remained closed for the remainder of the day, as high winds from Storm Noa continued to pose a safety risk.
In a statement issued by the park, Blackpool Pleasure Beach said that the ride had been stopped “due to sudden changes in weather conditions.” While guests were reassured and escorted from the ride by theme park staff, the rollercoaster could not be safely operated for the remainder of the day due to the high gusts of wind.
Unfortunately, this is not the only incident caused by the storm’s strong winds. A woman was seriously injured and rushed to the hospital after being hit by flying scaffolding earlier the same day. The Blackpool ride was closed for the rest of the day due to the incident.
Storm Noa caused widespread chaos across the UK, with yellow weather warnings issued over 70mph winds. As a result, amusement parks across the region were forced to close their attractions due to safety concerns, causing disappointment for attendees looking forward to enjoying the rides.
While amusement parks work diligently to ensure the safety of their rides, sometimes unpredictable weather conditions can force them to halt their operations. While this incident was undoubtedly frightening for the passengers involved, it is an important reminder of the safety measures that are in place to ensure that everyone is safe while enjoying the thrills of a rollercoaster ride.
