Jakarta, ThedailyID — A more than century-old wooden roller coaster in England suddenly stopped mid-ride, leaving passengers stranded and triggering panic. Park staff evacuated every rider safely, and no one suffered any injuries.
The incident occurred on Thursday, July 23, at the Big Dipper attraction in Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The seaside amusement park sits in Blackpool, north-west England.
Videos shared on social media showed the train halted on an inclined section of the track. One clip also appeared to show damage to part of the wooden structure.
“I will never ride a roller coaster again,” one TikTok user wrote while sharing footage of the incident, according to People.
Passenger Reanna Harrison-Berry, 20, described the experience as terrifying. She rode the attraction with her boyfriend, Aidan Coltherd, when the incident happened.
Harrison-Berry said the train made a loud crashing sound while climbing the main lift hill. She recalled the train suddenly rolling backwards at high speed before coming to a stop.
She later noticed the carriage she occupied had tilted to the left. Meanwhile, the carriage behind appeared to lean in the opposite direction.
“I was absolutely terrified,” Harrison-Berry said. She initially feared the train had derailed, although park officials have not confirmed that claim.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach said the ride stopped at around 2 p.m. local time in a relatively low section of the track. That position allowed trained operators to evacuate every passenger safely.
Trained ride operators guided every passenger off the attraction. First-aid personnel examined all riders, and the park confirmed that no one suffered injuries.
The park offered complimentary food to some passengers after the incident. It has also launched an internal investigation to determine why the ride stopped.
Meanwhile, Lancashire Police said officers did not receive any emergency calls about the incident. The force therefore did not respond to the scene.
Engineers opened the Big Dipper in 1923, making it one of the UK’s oldest operating wooden roller coasters. The attraction also ranks as the country’s second-oldest wooden coaster still in service.
The historic ride features five major drops, sharp turns, and a classic wooden structure. It remains one of the signature attractions at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
