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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 StaffordshireMore 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 with a friend the day before her 14th birthday. Amelia Watkins, from Shrewsbury, had attended the theme park the day before her 14th birthday with her friend Sophie Ashton.
Her mother Debbie went to meet them at Galactica and watched as the ride was halted. 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."
The friends said they were able to take off their virtual reality headsets when they felt the carriage stop, before realising they were stuck. Sophie said: "When we got to the top it all stopped. We took the glasses off and realised we were up in the air.
People in front of them were crying and shouting for help, they said, but staff climbed up to reassure them. "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.