Alton Towers evacuates ‘malfunctioning’ ride – one week after Smiler crash

A children’s ride at Alton Towers was forced to be evacuated yesterday – a week after a crash on The Smiler rollercoaster left five injured.

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by Jack White |
Published on

The Staffordshire theme park released a statement confirming that The Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure was evacuated after a guest became ‘agitated’.

“On 10 June, an incident occurred when, for unknown reasons, a guest became agitated on the Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure,” they said.

“In line with standard procedures, this led to the ride being evacuated. Alton Towers resort staff followed all normal processes to ensure guests were taken off the ride quickly and safely.”

Leah Washington
Leah Washington

An eyewitness told the Guardian claimed that nothing was done to stop other guests and children from witnessing the evacuation, causing further upset.

He said: “My wife and I just decided to leave the park at that point with our children. They absolutely nothing to stop the children and parents going into that part of the park to witness what was going on.”

The Smiler

It comes after Leah Washington, 17, had to have her left leg amputated above the knee as a result of The Smiler crash.

Leah’s brother has insisted she is ‘in good spirits’ – despite her horrific injuries. He BBC WM: “Yesterday I walked into the hospital room and she was standing up.

“It was great, Compared to last week, when she got to the hospital and I saw her for the first time, it’s a world of difference that I walked into that room and she was stood up.”

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