Alton Towers ride evacuated twice as theme park issues statement
Alton Towers' The Wicker Man ride was evacuated twice in an unprecedented move, according to theme park staff.
Visitors at the popular attraction were swiftly moved away from the rollercoaster this afternoon (September 14) following the triggering of a fire alarm. Eyewitness accounts describe a scene of concern as the alarm sounded, with some guests leaving their possessions behind in their haste to exit.
A witness claimed they overheard a staff member at the site saying: "This has never happened before." Paths near the ride - which was closed just months ago in a separate incident - were diverted as people were reportedly told to avoid the area.
READ MORE: 'Our honeymoon plans were left in ruins by TUI, we're heartbroken'
Some were said to have left their belongings behind as they vacated the scene. One eyewitness told the Express: "No one [was] allowed near it. Entire paths [were] cleared [and] no one was allowed to get their bags."
One person at the scene has said the ride has since reopened, with queues filling out almost immediately. But not long after, the fire alarm went off a second time.
They said: "They reopened it 20 minutes ago. The queues have just filled all over again and the fire alarm has just gone off AGAIN!! Another evacuation."
Wicker Man was also closed in July this year when smoke was seen emanating from the big thrill ride, forcing staff to evacuate anxious customers. Footage posted on social media showed black plumes emanating from the ride, which a spokesperson said at the time was likely the result of a "foreign object".
They said: “Operations on Wicker Man were paused after reports of smoke in the ride area. 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. At this stage we believe the cause of the smoke was the result of a foreign object.
"The safety of our guests is our top priority and the ride will be closed until further notice while we carry out essential maintenance."
Wicker Man was launched in 2018 as the UK's first wooden rollercoaster in 20 years, and boasts a 2,000-metre-long track complete with two tunnels and reaches a top speed of 44mph. The latest incident comes just weeks before the theme park is due to close for the winter.
Alton Towers stays open between March and November each year, and closes "around the start" of the autumn month, as temperatures start to plummet.
A spokesperson for Alton Towers Resort, said: "Following the activation of the fire alarm our teams followed normal procedures. Nothing of concern was found at the ride following our investigations.
"Our technical teams are working to reset the fire alarm. The safety of our guests is our number one priority and therefore we paused the ride and evacuated the queue line, as is our standard health and safety procedure."