Riders evacuated from Blackpool’s Big Dipper offered Burger King in compensation

Britain’s oldest rollercoaster has been evacuated after a suspected derailment.

The Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach came to a halt before rolling backwards, according to Reanna Harrison-Berry, who was riding with boyfriend Aidan Coltherd.

The couple, who are both 20, heard a crunching sound as they went uphill before it went backwards yesterday.

The resort would not confirm that the Grade II-listed ride had come off its tracks but said there would be an investigation and it would remain closed today.

Reanna said: ‘As we went three-quarters of the way up the big hill, it just completely smashed backwards really quickly.

‘The next thing we realised we were tilted to the left and the back carriage was completely to the right – it was quite scary.’

The mum-of-one from Kendal, Cumbria, added: ‘We went pretty quick upwards, but then it juddered and rolled back really quickly.

‘I was terrified, I’m not going to lie. I’ve never had that happen on a rollercoaster before. We didn’t really know what to do.’

Pictures on Reddit appear to show workers sawing through the rollercoaster’s fencing to evacuate shocked passengers.

Reanna says they were then asked to give statements and offered a free Burger King.

She said: ‘I couldn’t eat because I was so shaken up, but my boyfriend got a free meal and a couple of other people ate.

‘Then we got up to give a statement, and we got asked if we were going back to the park, on rides and stuff, or if we were leaving.

‘I said, “I think we’re going home now”.

A spokesperson from Pleasure Beach Resort said: ‘The Big Dipper came to a stop Thursday July 23, around 2pm, at a very low point in the ride.

‘Following this, a manual deboarding took place with guests guided safely by trained operators. All guests were checked by first aid trained staff, with no injuries reported.

‘An internal investigation is taking place to determine the root cause.’