Yahoo News Alton Towers visitors stranded at 180 feet on Oblivion
People were escorted off one of Alton Towers' most popular attractions today (July 25) after a technical fault left passengers stranded 180 feet in the air.
According to reports, guests on the popular Oblivion ride had to leave their seats and walk down a metal stairway from the roller coaster's highest point, after it stopped just before the notorious stomach-churning drop.
Eyewitnesses said those evacuated included children as young as 12. However, a spokesperson from the park assured people that 'guest safety was not compromised' during the evacuation.
"This afternoon Oblivion stopped after a sensor on the ride detected a minor technical fault," Alton Towers told Metro.
"The ride performed exactly as it is designed to do. In line with our well-rehearsed procedures, guests were assisted from the ride.
"At no point was guest safety compromised."
so glad I didn't go on oblivion, they're rescuing people off 😩 @altontowers pic.twitter.com/Snr674EQXh
- jess (@jssbrry) July 25, 2017
One eyewitness told MailOnline: "The passengers were looking around and they were very anxious to step off the ride and onto the stairs because it's quite a high fall.
"I was quite shocked because it's right opposite the Smiler where the incident was a few years ago."
Oblivion opened in 1998 and features speeds of up to 68mph. It's one of the park's oldest and most popular rides.
The evacuation comes two years after a horrific crash on the park's Smiler ride, which had opened in 2013.
In June 2015, riders Vicky Balch and Leah Washington both needed leg amputations after one of the ride's carriages crashed into an empty carriage left on the track.
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