Children were left 'traumatised' after a rollercoaster at Pleasurewood Hills near Lowestoft in Suffolk began to fill with smoke and release sparks on Saturday, according to reports. The ride, named Egg-Spress, stopped at the peak of a tunnelled incline, with the wheels continuing to spin.
Parents describe terrifying scenes
A parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC that the ride stopped suddenly, and the motor began to generate sparks and smoke. 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."
Another parent, Wayne Lennox, who had two children on the ride, said they came "running out from the tunnel screaming 'the rollercoaster is on fire'". 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" without warning.
No fire confirmed, but children 'half hanging out'
In a statement to the East Anglian Daily Times, Pleasurewood Hills said people climbed off the ride but confirmed there was no fire. Suffolk Fire Service told the publication it had been called to the park. The Mirror reports that adults formed a chain to help remaining children from the top of the track, with some screaming there were "still children in the tunnel".
Another parent said children had managed to get out of their seats but were "half hanging out" of the ride, which had "jolted backwards" as they tried to climb out. Parents claimed there were no announcements about the incident.
Ride history and response
The Pleasurewood Hills website states that Egg-Spress, formerly Rattlesnake, opened in 1986 and combines gentle hills, dips and curves for younger 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.
