Passengers forced to climb almost 200 feet down Blackpool's iconic ‘Big One’ roller coaster after stoppage

It’s not clear what caused the stoppage, but following a staff check the ride was able to reopen after a couple of hours
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Visitors at Blackpool Pleasure Beach had to walk down steps at the side of The Big One – once the tallest roller coaster in the world and currently the tallest roller coaster in the UK – after the ride broke down.

Videos and images shared across social media showed riders having to clamber down from the top of the 200 feet (61 metres) high roller coaster after becoming stranded at around 11.30am on Sunday (25 April).

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Staff at the popular theme park had to stop the ride before guiding visitors to safety, though the exact reason for doing so is not yet known.

They had been on the long incline of track travelling up to the top of the roller coaster – the ‘lift hill’ – when it came to a halt.

Social media users commented that they would need to be "removed with a crane" and "would be screaming".

A spokesperson for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said: “At 11.30am on Sunday 25 April a stoppage occurred on The Big One lift hill.

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"The decision was taken to stop the ride and all riders were safely escorted down the lift hill. The ride was checked and re-opened at approximately 1pm.”

The ride – which was built at a cost of £12 million – first opened in 1994.

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister title, the Blackpool Gazette