A young Scots holiday maker has laughed off the heart-stopping moment he and his friends were left "grabbing on for dear life" 235ft in the air as the UK's highest rollercoaster ground to a halt.
Leo McMullin from Glasgow queued for more than two hours with his mates to ride the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Tuesday April 11.
But drama unfolded as the ride started to climb to its highest point and, amid to strong winds, everything was brought to a halt with the thrill-seekers left stranded.
Despite staff assurances the rollercoaster would continue its course in a few moments, the 23-year-old and other revellers had to climb down the framework as the attraction was unable to start working again.
Leo told the Daily Record: "As we were going up the rollercoaster stopped at 200ft in the air, we were there for a minute or two before someone walked up.
"They said the rollercoaster would start again but then another five people walked up and said we had to get off. We got off and we had to walk down.
"We were the last carriage at the back so if we fell there was nothing to stop us, it was kind of scary. The carriage is quite small so it's just a case of grabbing on for dear life.
"There was no harness or equipment to seal you in, it was literally just walking down from 200ft in the air. If you fell you'd just keep going, my pals were scared but I just thought it was hilarious."
Leo, who works in LGBTQ+ bar Delmonicas in Glasgow city centre, recorded a video clip from the top of the ride and can be seen laughing while the group had to be guided by a staff member as they exited carriages down emergency steps.
In the clip, he says: “Aw naw we’re gonnae need to get aff this rollercoaster” before adding: “This isnae scary, it was getting out the rollercoaster.”
Leo said the experience hasn't put him off, saying: "I'd go again in a heartbeat but there were people in bits on the walk down.
"The staff were nice, they gave us FastPass for other rides but by this point it was quite late so it was kind of pointless."
A spokesperson for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said: "At 2.50pm on Tuesday 11th April, Blackpool Pleasure Beach stopped the Big One train on the ride’s lift hill due to sudden changes in weather conditions. Guests on the ride were reassured and escorted from the ride by Blackpool Pleasure Beach staff.
"Due to high gusts of wind the Big One rollercoaster closed for the remainder of the day."
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