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Alton Towers Galactica ride leaves 28 stranded in heavy rain | Alton Towers Galactica ride leaves 28 stranded in heavy rain |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Dozens of people were left stranded on a rollercoaster at Alton Towers when heavy rain caused it to stop. | Dozens of people were left stranded on a rollercoaster at Alton Towers when heavy rain caused it to stop. |
The park's new Galactica ride, which simulates space travel using virtual reality headsets, came to a halt at the Staffordshire theme park on Monday. | The park's new Galactica ride, which simulates space travel using virtual reality headsets, came to a halt at the Staffordshire theme park on Monday. |
Twenty-eight riders were stuck lying face down near the top of the highest drop of 20m (66ft) for 20 minutes. | Twenty-eight riders were stuck lying face down near the top of the highest drop of 20m (66ft) for 20 minutes. |
A spokeswoman for Alton Towers said heavy rain had obscured a sensor and the ride automatically stopped. | A spokeswoman for Alton Towers said heavy rain had obscured a sensor and the ride automatically stopped. |
More on this story, plus others from Staffordshire | More on this story, plus others from Staffordshire |
"This is a standard safety feature on this ride and the ride was working exactly as it is designed to do," she said. | "This is a standard safety feature on this ride and the ride was working exactly as it is designed to do," she said. |
Amelia Watkins, from Shrewsbury, had attended the theme park the day before her 14th birthday with her friend Sophie Ashton. | |
Amelia's mother Debbie went to meet them at Galactica and watched as the ride was halted. | |
She said: "I thought 'oh dear they're up there'. I could see all these people just hanging there." | She said: "I thought 'oh dear they're up there'. I could see all these people just hanging there." |
Sophie said: "When we got to the top it all stopped. We took the glasses off and realised we were up in the air. | |
"It looked as if we were going to fall. We could see Nemesis going round underneath us. | |
"There were two people in front crying and some people were shouting for help. We were a bit worried. | |
"The people [Alton Towers staff] came up to say we would be safe and we would be getting down." | |
Mrs Watkins said: "They were shaken and wet because it was hammering it down with rain. Their hands were icy cold." | Mrs Watkins said: "They were shaken and wet because it was hammering it down with rain. Their hands were icy cold." |
Galactica opened last month and is a £12m upgrade from a previous rollercoaster attraction called Air. | Galactica opened last month and is a £12m upgrade from a previous rollercoaster attraction called Air. |
Monday's incident comes less than a year after the Smiler rollercoaster crash, which left two women needing to have legs amputated. | Monday's incident comes less than a year after the Smiler rollercoaster crash, which left two women needing to have legs amputated. |
The theme park's owner, Merlin Attractions, later admitted a health and safety breach. | The theme park's owner, Merlin Attractions, later admitted a health and safety breach. |