One of Britain’s most terrifying – or thrilling – rollercoasters became even more terrifying and less thrilling when the ride was halted metres from the summit because of sudden winds.
It meant passengers had to disembark the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and be escorted back down the ride’s dauntingly steep emergency stairs.
The incident took place at about 2.50pm on Tuesday and the ride remained closed for the rest of the day due to “high gusts of winds”, the Pleasure Beach said.
The whole operation was very orderly and safe, said one witness, Georgina Harrison, the manager of King’s Boutique hotel, which has decking with views of the Big One.
“We can see everything that happens on the Big One and I was surprised to see this,” said Harrison, who took a photograph. “It does happen occasionally.”
Asked if she had ever been on it, Harrison said: “Definitely not, no. I’m happy to just watch from afar.”
Another image on Twitter showed passengers calmly making their way down. The person who posted the image had been on the previous ride. “It was cold, raining and quite windy! Staff did great job getting everyone down though!” they posted.
The Pleasure Beach does offer escorted climbs to the 235ft (72-metre) summit of the Big One, and people who have done that talk of jelly legs but also spectacular views. Unfortunately, the weather on Tuesday was dismally grey skies.
The Big One opened in 1994 as the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world. It remains the tallest in Britain but has long since lost its world-beating status.
The tallest rollercoaster in the world is now the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. With a summit 456ft high, it is also the fastest rollercoaster in North America, with passengers going from 0-128mph (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. It is 90 degrees straight up and then a plummet down a 270-degree spiral. The park’s advice is: “Not recommended for wimps.”
A spokesperson for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said the Big One stopped on the ride’s lift hill “due to sudden changes in weather conditions. Guests on the ride were reassured and escorted from the ride by Blackpool Pleasure Beach staff. Due to high gusts of wind the Big One rollercoaster closed for the remainder of the day.”
