A British urban explorer has revealed eerie images of an abandoned theme park in Bari, Italy, which he says is shrouded in rumours of child deaths and ghost sightings. Ben James, 32, from Cambridge, ventured into the derelict attraction, capturing haunting shots of rusting roller coasters and a giant statue emerging from the ground.
The park was closed around 2015 by the Italian government, and speculation has swirled ever since about the cause. James told the Daily Mirror that he was informed by locals that two children had died on rides, leading to the shutdown over safety concerns.
Adding to the mystery, James said a security guard at the site claimed to have seen the ghosts of children running and laughing among the abandoned rides. 'One of the security guards that looks after the site said that he’s seen the ghost of children running and laughing which is creepy and surreal,' James recounted.
The explorer described the atmosphere as 'surreal,' contrasting the former joy and laughter with the current eerie silence. His photographs show a swinging ride intact but dusty, an empty snack bar ready to serve, and a comically large bottle sculpture towering over the park.
James likened the scene to something from 'The Walking Dead' or 'The Last of Us,' and said his favourite part was examining the left-behind rides and stalls. One roller coaster had been removed, but other attractions remained frozen in time.
