Two rides reportedly broke down during the crippling heat
A shocking video shows Thorpe Park visitors ‘stuck on the Hyperia ride for 30 minutes’ during 33C heat. Two rides broke down yesterday (May 25) on the then hottest May day on record, according to social media site UB1UB2.
Riders were reportedly stuck more 200ft in the air at the apex of the rollercoaster before it restarted 30 minutes later. Hyperia became the UK’s tallest and fastest ride when it opened in 2024 – taking over from Stealth which is also situated in Thorpe Park.
Ahead of the heatwave, the theme park confirmed some rides may temporarily close for safety reasons. Yesterday evening the Met Office confirmed the UK had recorded its highest ever spring temperature after the mercury soared to 34.8C in Kew Gardens.
Similar temperatures of more than 33C were recorded across the rest of London, Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. There is a chance this record is beaten again today (Tuesday, May 26) with the Met Office predicting highs of 35C.
Met Office Chief Operational Meteorologist Dan Suri said: “We’ve now provisionally broken the spring and May temperature record. Meteorologically, what we’ve seen is the influence of warmth building under an area of high pressure near the UK allowing exceptional heat to build allowing maximum and minimum temperatures to reach levels not previously reported at this time of year.
“Further heat is in the forecast for much of England and Wales, with similar temperatures forecast for Tuesday. High pressure is forecast to gradually lose its influence later in the week, though maximum temperatures will still remain high and in the low 30°Cs for some mid-week and high 20°Cs late this week.”
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