Text Box: Text Box: Text Box: ‘Fright Night at Thorpe Park’ 2/11/06 Top UK theme park- Thorpe Park’s Halloween celebrations nearly ended in tragedy last night as a rollercoaster stopped in mid-flight. The Colossus rollercoaster is one of the park’s main attractions, but yesterday evening after a day of malfunction the speedy ride came to a standstill in total darkness, leaving over 25 people suspended nearly 100ft in the air. One eye-witness told how staff had to climb up the dangerously-high steps to help frightened guests to safety. Blankets also had to be given out to help deal with the ice-cold temperatures of 2 degrees. Thorpe Park insisted today that the situation was fully under control, praising workers and medical staff dealing with the incident and emphasizing that no-one was hurt, but thrill-seekers were still concerned as to the safety of the ride. “I’ve been here since it opened this morning and that particular ride has closed down three times already. It may have stopped in a safe position, but it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the park or its’ attractions”. The Colossus was introduced to the Staines-based Park in 2002 and was instrumental in changing the image of it more in-line with those of fellow Tussauds Group venues- Chessington and Alton Towers as an adrenalin-junkie’s paradise. It boasts speeds of up to 45mph and is the world’s only ten lopping rollercoaster. The theme park had already experienced low turn-out during the day with one of its lowest-ever attendances for its annual ‘Fright Night’ Halloween celebrations. One inside source said that he had never seen it as deserted as yesterday. However bosses insisted that they were pleased with the attendance of yesterday’s event. CM Text Box: Links and affiliates Contact Me