Thorpe Park guests ‘stranded ‘on rollercoaster throughout record-breaking heatwave
Guests at Thorpe Park were left stuck on rides including brand new Hyperia for half an hour as two attractions reportedly malfunctioned during the hottest Summer Bank Holiday ever recorded
Two rides at Thorpe Park reportedly broke down (file) (Image: Getty Images)
Several guests at Thorpe Park were reportedly left trapped for half an hour during the blistering heatwave on Bank Holiday Monday as two popular attractions ‘broke down’ simultaneously.
With major theme parks like Thorpe Park having opened for the summer season several months prior, countless visitors were seen taking advantage of the Summer Bank Holiday on Monday, May 25, to spend their day experiencing the various roller coasters and rides.
Yet with the record-smashing heatwave striking on the same day, it didn’t prove quite as pleasant for some as they might have hoped.
In clips posted on Instagram, two attractions were filmed having broken down at the same time on Bank Holiday Monday, leaving riders allegedly stuck on the rides for half an hour in sweltering 33 degree heat.
The footage was shared by account UB1UB2, and was recorded by someone standing on the ground in the heart of Thorpe Park. The footage showed them zooming in on the visitors who had become trapped on the ride, before the person spun around to show another rollercoaster also motionless, with passengers seen fidgeting in their seats.
One of the attractions that reportedly broke down was the brand new Hyperia, where riders remained stuck 200 feet up at the summit of the ride. Hyperia became the UK’s tallest and fastest ride when it opened in 2024, surpassing Stealth which is also situated at Thorpe Park.
Another attraction at the park seemed to stop at the same time, leaving guests ‘stuck mid-ride’ during the heatwave. Thorpe Park has not yet publicly disclosed what caused the simultaneous shutdown, reports the Mirror.
The incident happened after the theme park had issued a statement prior to the heatwave, cautioning that some rides might temporarily close for safety reasons.
On their website, they also mention: “We want everyone to experience our awesome rides as safely as possible, sometimes we may have to temporarily close a ride during adverse weather conditions.”
On the day in question, the Met Office confirmed that the UK had registered its highest ever spring temperatures as the mercury rocketed nationwide, with Surrey hit by a yellow weather warning as temperatures soared to a blistering 33C.
The top temperature recorded across the UK was taken at Kew Gardens, where it reached an astonishing 34.8C, setting a new record for the hottest Summer Bank Holiday ever.
Following the ride malfunctions, Thorpe Park has also posted a notice on their website confirming that anyone who visited the park on May 25, 2026 is eligible for a free return visit under their Return Guarantee. More information about this can be found on their website.
A spokesperson for Thorpe Park said: ‘Hyperia and Colossus experienced brief stoppages unrelated to weather on Monday 25th May.
“Both rides were brought to a controlled stop on their lift hills before restarting and being brought back into their ride stations where all guests safely disembarked.
“The health and safety of our guests and staff is our number one priority and at no stage were there any safety concerns for guests.
“Stoppages are perfectly normal and commonly experienced in theme parks everywhere and both rides reopened shortly after.”
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