27 rescued from stalled rollercoaster at Suffolk theme park

Twenty-seven people, including children, were trapped on the Wipeout rollercoaster at Pleasurewood Hills theme park in Lowestoft, Suffolk, for approximately three hours on Monday, August 31, 2026, after a power cut caused the ride to stall 50 feet in the air. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to the scene just before 1:30 p.m. and successfully rescued all passengers using an aerial ladder and a scissor lift, with no injuries reported.

The incident occurred on the Bank Holiday Monday when a car on the 130-foot-tall ride became stuck on the Cobra Roll section of the track following a suspected power outage. According to a park statement, the train stopped at height, and emergency services worked alongside the park's maintenance team to evacuate riders in line with established procedures. The rescue operation was completed at 4:05 p.m.

Witnesses described a tense situation. One mother, Karen Purkiss, whose children were on the ride, called it a "terrifying incident" for everyone involved. She explained on social media that the ride did not stall but became stuck on the back straight. When it was released, the back brake failed to stop it, causing the train to travel...