Passengers on the Oblivion roller coaster at Alton Towers were rescued from the ride this morning after a train got stuck half way up its 180ft high tracks.
Riders got out of the cars and were escorted down steps at the side of track after it stopped almost at its highest point, with theme park bosses blaming a “minor technical fault”.
Guests at the Staffordshire leisure spot watch from the ground below as people clambered from seats and down off the ride with the help of safety officials.
An eyewitness told the MailOnline: “The carriage is completely stuck at the top and isn’t going.
“About six staff all went up with harnesses and started taking the riders off.
“People were gathering around and looking up at the ride. There were a few staff from the nearby shops that were looking up as well.”
Onlookers shared pictures and videos from the scene on social media, with one person writing along with their clip: “Oblivion rollercoaster at Alton Towers breaks down mid-ride.
“Emergency recovery crew having to free people from the ride.”
The coaster cars are said to have been ascending the track ahead of a drop but they stopped at an angle part way up and remained there with ride operators unable to do anything before removing passengers.
The safety crew went up to help wearing helmets and used ropes to secure themselves to the track.
A spokesperson for the park said: “This afternoon Oblivion stopped after a sensor on the ride detected a minor fault. The ride performed exactly as it is designed to do.
“In line with our well-rehearsed procedures, guests were assisted from the ride. At no point was guest safety compromised.”
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In 2015 Alton Towers hit the headlines after a horrific accident on the Smiler roller coaster when two teenagers both lost a leg and 14 others suffered injuries.
The incident was blamed on human error and park owners Merlin Attractions were fined £5million for breaching health and safety rules.
Would you feel safe going on Oblivion knowing that the ride safety measures performed correctly in the situation or would you prefer to stay on the ground? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.
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