Why 27 people ended up hanging 50ft above a UK theme park on its flagship coaster
Firefighters were called to Pleasurewood Hills after 27 riders were left stuck about 50ft up on the Wipeout rollercoaster.
A rollercoaster billed as one of a region's standout thrill rides became the centre of an emergency when its train stopped high above the ground. Firefighters were called to Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft, where 27 people were left stranded on Wipeout.
The incident unfolded on the Wipeout rollercoaster at the Suffolk theme park, with the train stopping on the track at about 15 metres, or roughly 50 feet, in the air.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said 27 people were stuck on the ride while crews attended the scene. The service also said the carriages were not upside down, a detail that helps explain the exact position rescuers were dealing with as they worked to reach those on board.
The park's coaster is no small attraction. Wipeout is described on the venue's website as the biggest rollercoaster in East Anglia, and the only Vekoma Boomerang operating in the UK. Pleasurewood Hills has also called it its flagship rollercoaster.
The ride had recently been updated
Wipeout first opened in 2007, when it was promoted as East Anglia's tallest, fastest and most extreme ride. Pleasurewood Hills says the coaster stands at more than 40 metres, or 131 feet, tall.
The stoppage is especially striking because the ride had already been through a major revamp. Over the winter of 2024 to 2025, Wipeout underwent a £1 million transformation. That work included a new train fitted with waist restraint lap bars, which the park said were introduced to improve comfort and safety.
At the time of the emergency, firefighters were still working to rescue the stranded riders.
Why a coaster can stop mid ride
Modern roller coasters are built to stop safely long before they are designed to keep moving at all costs. The track is divided into sections, often called blocks, and the control system is meant to allow only one train into each section at a time. If sensors detect a train where it should not be, or if a restraint, gate, weather monitor, power system or other safety check does not read correctly, the ride can automatically halt.
That can leave riders sitting on a lift hill, brake run or high section of track while staff work through checks. A stoppage does not automatically mean a crash or mechanical failure. In many cases it means the safety system has done exactly what it was designed to do: stop the train and prevent a worse problem.
How riders are kept safe while waiting
Roller coaster restraints are designed to stay locked during a stoppage, even if the train is tilted or elevated. Staff then follow set procedures to confirm the train is secure, communicate with riders and decide whether the train can be restarted or needs an evacuation.
Evacuations from height can take time because they are controlled, step by step operations. Staff may need to isolate the ride, secure access routes and guide people along narrow walkways or stairs. Riders are often asked to remain still and wait for instructions because sudden movement, attempts to force a restraint, or trying to film while climbing can create extra risk.
What to do if you ever get stuck
The most useful thing is also the least dramatic: stay seated, keep your restraint fastened and listen for staff instructions. Do not try to stand up, lean out, retrieve dropped items or unlock anything yourself.
If you are riding with children or a nervous companion, speak calmly and keep them focused on simple steps such as breathing slowly and holding still. If you have a medical concern, tell staff as soon as they make contact.
Before riding, it is worth checking the warning signs for height limits, health conditions and accessibility advice. Secure loose items properly, and if you know you are uncomfortable with heights or being confined for a while, a large coaster may not be the best choice that day.
