UK’s ‘tallest rollercoaster’ Hyperia at Thorpe Park ‘breaks down’ – with thrill-seekers stuck on ride at 236ft for an HOUR just days after reopening
- Hyperia first opened on May 24, but closed just a day later
Britain’s tallest rollercoaster appeared to break down at Thorpe Park yesterday – leaving thrill-seekers trapped 70 meters in the air for an hour just days after it reopened.
Hyperia first opened on May 24, but closed just a day later due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ – promising it would be open again in five days.
But the daredevil device – which the park has dubbed their “Golden Goddess” – didn’t reopen until June 12, two weeks after they said so.
And just three days after reopening, it came to a halt mid-ride yesterday.
With a height of 72 meters (as high as 18 double-deckers stacked on top of each other), it has a top speed of 131 kilometers per hour.
Hyperia has only been open since May 24, but closed just a day later due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ – promising it would be open again in five days
Just three days after the reopening, it came to a stop halfway through the ride yesterday
The attraction appeared to have stopped at almost the peak of the experience – before punters on the other side plummeted into a near-vertical fall.
Thorpe Park said the ride was ‘slightly delayed’ as guests were high in the air for almost an hour.
They added that it is “completely normal” for roller coasters to stop mid-ride.
“Hyperia has experienced a brief delay in operations today,” they said The sun. “The guests were held at the lift hill for approximately an hour before the ride resumed and the train was taken back to the ride station.
‘Downtimes are completely normal and common in theme parks around the world.
“At no time were there any concerns about the safety of the guests.”
The site was evacuated as crews attempted to free those en route Mirror reported.
One spectator even claimed that someone had entered the ride to give the hapless thrill seekers lunch.
A park visitor told the newspaper: ‘A man went up with a harness, spoke to them and came back down. They have now closed the ride.
“It’s been open/closed all morning and they’ve evacuated the entire attraction area.”
