Alton Towers ride evacuated as thrill-seekers 'abandon bags' and staff make 'unusual' announcement

A ride at Alton Towers was reportedly evacuated
-Credit: (Image: (Image: Harry Rutter))


On September 14, Alton Towers' famed Wicker Man ride was suddenly evacuated.

An eyewitness revealed that the evacuation was initiated in the early afternoon due to the fire alarm being set off, as park-goers exhibited visible concern.

According to reports, some guests hastily exited, leaving personal items behind, following instructions to vacate the area promptly. The area surrounding the impressive structure was sealed off, with the source at the theme park near Stoke-on-Trent disclosing: "No one [was] allowed near it... entire paths cleared, no one was allowed to get their bags."

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During the commotion, staff were overheard stating in disbelief: "This has never happened before."

Frustration mounted among adventure enthusiasts who had endured lengthy waits to experience the attraction, the eyewitness noted, reports the Express.

In an additional report, the same observer indicated that despite reopening following the interruption, the Wicker Man had to be closed down once again shortly afterwards.

"They reopened it 20 minutes ago," the park visitor remarked. "The queues have just filled all over again and the fire alarm has just gone off AGAIN! ! " Compounding the disruption, a subsequent evacuation was executed.

Express.co.uk has reached out to Alton Towers seeking an official statement regarding the events.

Earlier in the year, an unrelated incident demanded another evacuation of the ride when video footage disclosed via X on July 26 showed smoke issuing from the attraction. Prompt measures were taken by park authorities and safety teams in response.

A representative for Alton Towers Resort stated: "Our technical team swiftly attended to the smoke and followed well-rehearsed procedures to quickly resolve the issue'."

"Wicker Man is constructed with treated wood which inhibits fire ignition," they added, suggesting: "At this stage, we believe the cause of the smoke was the result of a foreign object."

Following the incident, the ride was temporarily closed for "essential maintenance". The park reassured in July that guest safety remains their utmost priority, and the ride would remain closed until all necessary inspections and repairs are completed.

The Wicker Man, which opened in spring 2018, is Alton Towers' first wooden roller coaster in over 20 years, built at a cost of £16 million.