There seems to be a disturbing trend of rollercoasters/rides collapsing and stopping working this summer – could it possibly be something to do with the extreme heat we’re experiencing? – and the latest one of these incidents comes from the oldest theme park in the country, Blackgang Chine on the Isle Of Wight.

Featured Image VIA

I’ve never heard of the theme park and imagine it pales in comparison to Alton Towers or Thorpe Park these days, but apparently it’s been on the island since 1843 and is a major tourist attraction. Maybe I’ll have to check it out sometime?

Anyway, the ride that broke down this time was the Shipwrecked ride which has been described as a sort of Magic Carpet style attraction. During one session, the ride suddenly lurched to one side causing all the participants – including some very young children – to be squished to one side. Onlookers had to help riders clamber to safety out of the ride.

Here’s some video footage as well as the comments of Mark Duncan who witnessed the incident:

The ride was at its peak height when it smashed to the ground on its right side making a really loud noise.

Everybody on the ride was immediately thrown to their left side and appeared to be really tightly scrunched together.

There were lots of terrified screams and one girl was completely hysterical even after her feet were on solid ground.

She was sitting to the far left as you look at the ride, my wife, daughter and grandson were on the ride 20 minutes before and heard loud grinding noises.

The noises were obvious and could clearly be heard even when you were standing by the ride.

Geez that does not look or sound good does it? I get that the park’s really old, but this should definitely not be happening!

Thankfully nobody was seriously injured, although two men were taken to hospital, one with leg injuries and the other with shoulder pain. The park was shut for the day on Monday but re-opened on Tuesday.

Normally I would recommend checking out a theme park in the summer because they’re a lot of fun, but maybe actually give them a miss this year. A lot of problems going on. Just saying.

For more of the same, check out when this theme park ride broken in half in Uzbekistan. That was really something else.