31 December 2023 , 17:49
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There was chaos at Winter Wonderland after a ride malfunctioned, leaving customers trapped in mid-air.
For eight minutes, the people who had been hoping to enjoy their festive period at the famous attraction at Hyde Park instead found themselves stuck, suspended in the air. A video showing the incident circulated widely on social media.
It showed the Blizzard ride, with its long rotating arm with seats at either end, frozen in position. Crowds continued milling about throughout the attraction, as other rides carried on as usual too.
Despite claims the ride was stuck in the air for 35 minutes, it was only stuck there for eight minutes. It had suffered from a power outage that was "handled quickly" by ride operators to get it back underway.
A Hyde Park Winter Wonderland spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the Blizzard ride had a power outage that lasted eight minutes on the evening of December 30. The issue was handled quickly by the ride operators and customer services and the riders were safely escorted off the ride. The safety of our visitors is our top priority, and all of our rides undergo rigorous and regular safety checks by experienced members of staff."
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The huge ride can take thrill seekers as much as 65 metres in the air, lifting them up and down at high speeds. After seeing the video online, some people commented they might be missing out on the rides this year. One man said: "Naaa, thanks, but no thanks. Too old for this sort of situations. Mulled wine and German sausage baps for me."
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, often simply referred to as Winter Wonderland, is a huge annual event held every festive period. It runs from mid-November to early January and lets visitors enjoy ice skating, rides, food, entertainment and more.