Children were left 'screaming' and 'traumatised' after a rollercoaster at Pleasurewood Hills theme park in Suffolk filled with smoke, forcing them to climb off the ride. The incident occurred on Saturday on the Egg-Spress ride, near Lowestoft, when a tunnel part of the ride began to fill with smoke due to a burning smell.
Ride stops as sparks and smoke fill tunnel
A parent, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC that the ride stopped at the peak of a tunnelled incline section, but the wheels continued to spin. She said: "It started creating sparks and smoke and my daughter said she could see sparks from the motor behind and a flame come at the front. Everyone was screaming for help, I could hear so much screaming."
In a statement to the East Anglian Daily Times (EADT), Pleasurewood Hills confirmed people had climbed off the ride but said there was not a fire. Suffolk Fire Service said it had not been called to the park.
Parents describe frantic rescue
Wayne Lennox, who had two children on the ride, said they came "running out from the tunnel screaming 'the rollercoaster is on fire'." He added that he ran back to the ride and saw a young boy, whom he encouraged to get off the track just before the rollercoaster "shot back down the hill" with no prior warning. Adults were screaming that there were "still children in the tunnel" as they formed a chain to help get the remaining kids from the top of the track.
The father of two said: "It could have been so, so horrendous. For children on a rollercoaster, and there's smoke filling up [the tunnel], they are going to think it's on fire, they are going to try to get out. They are young children on their own and a few adults."
Riders 'half hanging out' as ride jolts
Another parent added that children had managed to get out of their seats and were "half hanging out" of the ride. They added that the ride had "jolted backwards" while children were attempting to climb out. Parents claimed that no announcement had been made when the incident occurred.
The park's website states that Egg-Spress, formerly Rattlesnake, opened in 1986, combining a mix of gentle hills, dips and curves for the littlest thrill-seekers. A spokesman for Pleasurewood Hills told the EADT that the main priority of staff was to speak to those affected. The Mirror has contacted Pleasurewood Hills for further comment.
