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.