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Group trapped on Walibi ride for more than three hours

10:51 13/10/2019

Four visitors to Walibi theme park were trapped in mid-air for more than three hours on Saturday when their rollercoaster broke down.

The Dalton Terror, one of the park's most popular rides, got stuck during its descent, about 35 metres from the ground, with two men and two women on board.

The theme park was evacuated as firefighters were called to the scene. The ride was too high to be reached by ladder and rescuers had to use ropes to climb up to the trapped passengers.

The four rollercoaster riders made it back to the ground at about 19.45 on Saturday evening, after three and a half hours suspended in the air.

Walibi director general Jean-Christopher Parent said the Dalton Terror, which has been in service since 1997, was checked annually and this was its first breakdown. The exact circumstances behind the incident are not yet clear.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "In the 20 years that this ride has existed, it is the first time that we have had to be called out."

Photo: Eric Lalmand/Belga

Written by The Bulletin