The Big Dipper, a wooden roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach built in 1923, unexpectedly stopped on July 23 and required a manual evacuation. TikTok footage shows a tilted car and possible damaged wooden track; riders reported hearing a "crunch" and a brief backward roll. All guests were safely guided off by trained operators and checked by first-aid staff; no injuries were reported. The park has opened an internal investigation and police were not called.
Century-Old Big Dipper Halts Mid-Ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach — Riders Manually Evacuated
Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, EnglandCredit: Christopher Furlong/Getty
Visitors were evacuated from the Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach after the historic wooden roller coaster unexpectedly stopped on July 23. The incident—captured in clips shared on TikTok—sparked alarm after footage appeared to show a tilted car and possible damage to the wooden track.
What happened
According to riders and local reports, the train climbed an incline when passengers heard a loud "crunch." One rider, 20-year-old Reanna Harrison-Berry, told SWNS the train briefly rolled backward before coming to rest. She described the cars as tilted and said the experience felt like the ride had "derailed."
"As we went three-quarters of the way up the big hill, it just completely smashed backwards really quickly... I was terrified, I'm not going to lie," Harrison-Berry said.
Park response and safety
Blackpool Pleasure Beach confirmed the Big Dipper stopped around 2 p.m. and that the train came to rest at a low point on the course. Trained ride operators performed a manual deboarding and first-aid–trained staff checked all riders; the resort reported no injuries. The park has launched an internal investigation to determine the cause of the stoppage.
Blackpool, EnglandCredit: Barry Lewis/In Pictures via Getty
The Lancashire Constabulary told PEOPLE that police were not called in connection with the incident. One rider said the park offered those affected a complimentary meal.
About the Big Dipper
Built in 1923, the Big Dipper is a wooden coaster featuring five drops and a series of twisting, banked turns. It is widely regarded as an icon of Blackpool Pleasure Beach and is listed as the second-oldest roller coaster in Britain by HistoricEngland.org.
Context
Video and eyewitness accounts have prompted scrutiny while the park investigates. Officials emphasize that all guests were safely removed and checked; the internal inquiry will determine whether equipment, a structural issue, or a mechanical fault caused the stoppage.
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