Story perspectives

Suffolk Fire Rescue Saves 27 After Rollercoaster Halts

9/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service rescued 27 people from the Wipeout rollercoaster at Pleasurewood Hills.
Firefighters responded at 1:26 pm BST on August 31, 2026 after the cars halted 15 metres above ground.
Crews employed an aerial ladder and a scissor lift equipped with advanced height-rescue gear.
All riders were lowered safely to the ground around 4:05 pm, ending a three-hour ordeal.
No passengers were injured, and the coaster had undergone a £1 million 2024/25 refurbishment.

History

Historical Context

In July 1979 a Six Flags Over Texas coaster malfunction stranded 27 riders, prompting Texas officials to launch safety reviews that later shaped restraint standards nationwide. On a recent day, Suffolk Fire and Rescue spent three hours rescuing 27 Pleasurewood Hills riders by air, illustrating how modern height-rescue equipment and coordinated command structures have evolved from those earlier coaster incidents.

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Story summary

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service rescued 27 people from the Wipeout rollercoaster at Pleasurewood Hills.
Firefighters responded at 1:26 pm BST on August 31, 2026 after the cars halted 15 metres above ground.
Crews employed an aerial ladder and a scissor lift equipped with advanced height-rescue gear.
All riders were lowered safely to the ground around 4:05 pm, ending a three-hour ordeal.
No passengers were injured, and the coaster had undergone a £1 million 2024/25 refurbishment.

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