Full Breakdown
27 Riders Rescued After Wipeout Rollercoaster Stalls at Pleasurewood Hills
9/1/2026, 6:02:38 AM
Stalled Wipeout Ride Leaves 27 Riders Suspended
On August 31, a bank-holiday afternoon at Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft, Suffolk, the park’s flagship rollercoaster, Wipeout, halted about 15 metres (?50 ft) above the ground, leaving 27 passengers suspended for several hours. Firefighters from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service used an aerial ladder and a scissor lift to lower the riders safely. No injuries were reported.
Background & Context
The coaster is a Vekoma Boomerang model, the only one of its type in the UK, featuring a lift hill, cobra roll, vertical loop and a backward “rollback” segment. Over the winter of 2024-2025 it underwent a £1 million refurbishment that added a new train and waist-resistant lap bars. The ride has previously stopped, notably in July 2024 for 22 minutes and in 2017 when a man was rescued after a breakdown.
Timeline
- 1:26 pm (Monday) – Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service receives the call and dispatches crews from Ipswich East, Ixworth and Lowestoft South.
- Shortly after – Carriages are confirmed stationary about 15 metres in the air, not upside down.
- ?3 pm – Firefighters begin using the aerial ladder and scissor lift.
- ?4:05 pm – Some outlets report all riders have been brought to the ground.
- After 5 pm – Other reports state the final rescue was completed then.
Data & Statistics
- Passengers affected: 27
- Height of suspension: ~15 metres (?50 ft)
- Ride height: over 40 metres (?131 ft)
- Rescue equipment: aerial ladder and scissor lift
- Injuries: none
Official Statements & Responses
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that all 27 passengers were rescued using the aerial ladder and scissor lift and that the carriages were not upside down. The service noted crews remained on scene until the operation was complete.
Pleasurewood Hills thanked the riders for their composure and the fire service for its swift response, describing the incident as a “minor incident” and stating the ride’s safety system functioned as designed.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on when the rescue concluded. The Independent, BBC and several local outlets say passengers were on the ground by ?4:05 pm, while Chronicle Live, Daily Record and the Mirror indicate the final rescue finished after 5 pm. No source provides a definitive timeline for when the carriages were first secured.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The carriages, which came to a stop on the track, are approximately 15 metres in the air, but not upside down.” — Rescue Service
Why It Matters
The incident demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated emergency response for amusement-park incidents and the value of recent safety upgrades. While the £1 million refurbishment introduced new restraint systems, the stoppage shows mechanical failures can still occur, prompting parks and regulators to review maintenance and emergency-procedure protocols.
