Accidents Involving Injury at Alton Towers

Official U.S. federal and state data on theme park accidents is almost nonexistent. That's why Theme Park Insider users are creating this visitor-maintained database of theme park accidents--to give public at least some information about attraction safety records.

Do you know of, or have been part of, an accident involving injury at Alton Towers? Report it to Theme Park Insider.

Verified Incidents

7/20/2006 - Runaway Mine Train - Submitted by dastar on 7/20/2006

At alton towers today at about 11:00am the runaway mine train had an accident. as it was going around the track the end part of the train came off and rolled back crashing in to the front part. Two people were tken to hospital in an air ambulance and another was driven to the hospital. alton towers do not know what caused this accident but they are investigating now.

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Follow-up:
This is true. I was there shortly after the accident, just coming off the rapids. 29 people were injured in total, 25 only had minor injuries and were treated on site, while others were badly injured and took to hostpital. 2 people were so seriously injured they had to be taken to hostpital by helicopter. -- Submitted by rowan08 on 7/20/2006

Went to alton towers a week ago and was speaking to one of the paramedics in the first aid department regarding this accident. Air ambulances were called not becasue of serious injuries but becasue only one ambulance could get to the park in time, therefore the only option was to deploy air ambulances. Alton towers and i think all theme parks have response times that have to be met when accidents happen and this was not possible if they were to wait for normal ambulances. The paramedic said that the injuries were mainly whiplash and that everyone was now ok. -- Submitted by noodle on 8/26/2006

I was there standing on the bridge on top of were the accident happened, the first carrage went under the bridge and came out by the side of it but as it went up a hill it slowed down and the next second was going back the way it came. Everyone on the ride was laughing at first because they thouight it was some sort of a joke but then a carrage came up the track at a really fast pace and hit the back of the first carrage. The people on both carrages were thrown forwars in there seat like if a person was in a car crash, both carrages then proceded to roll backwards under the bridge i was standing on. It was very frightening to see and put me of going on the rides for a while. -- Submitted by Rachel_Jessica_Downs on 7/20/2006

I read something like this in the paper but I did not know if it was true. I remember many happy times on that ride as a young child so I did not believe it. However when I was there the other day it was shut but staff just said it had broken down. When we was in the queue for the rapids we heard a boy say that two women had been killed when part of the bridge fell on them. Is this true as well? -- Submitted by smellybelly on 8/18/2006

For information, smelly belly's report is not correct - no-one was killed. Here's a statement from Grayam Barnes, a UK Health and Safety Executive Inspector, given the day after the accident, following his initial inspection. "A component in the coupling mechanism at the front of the train failed, leading the train operator to hit the emergency stop button. A gap developed between the front and rear of the train, the rear of the train came to a gradual stop in the tunnel, the front carriages continued up a slight incline and rolled back into the rear of the train at a relatively slow speed." He also commented "All fairground and theme park rides are subject to annual Safety Inspections and an appropriate certificate was issued to Alton Towers, and their records were up to date and no fault was found with the daily inspections." As part of his initial finds he has made recommendations for the future operation of this ride to ensure that this incident could not reoccur. The findings will be referred back to the manufacturer Mack to issue a techinical bulletin to other operators of this ride. Alton Towers have confirmed that the ride will re-open for the 2007 season. -- Submitted by marky.com on 9/28/2006

i was on that ride with my girlfriend when it happened we thought we were gonna die we held on tight after the carriage broke we were on the front half so when we stopped we started to roll and gather speed we then collided with the other half about 20 -30 miles an hour the train then broke into 3. i can honestly say i was scared to death.it took about 30mins for eveyone to get off, there was women and children screaming in fear it was one experience id like to forget. i can honestly say i wont be going again. -- Submitted by kennylee on 2/13/2007

Amelia Seiga, 12, suffered the double fractures after riding on the new Rita, Queen of Speed ride at Alton Towers theme park, in Staffordshire, her mother said. She said: "The force of the ride was so strong that it peeled her hands off the guard rail and bent her wrists back."

For more information about this incident, visit http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4683526

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Follow-up:
It's true. it was on the bbc website. alton towers defended themeselves i think -- Submitted by lordcutter6 on 3/15/2007

I was at Alton Towers on the 10th July 2002. I heared that the Nemesis had broken down. Then we saw the air ambulance going into the park. [Another reader confirms: "I was too at the park on this day and can confirm that someone was seriously injured on Nemesis. The person was stretchered to the central green where an air-ambulance picked it up and took it to the nearby hospital. Staff would not comment about the accident and Nemesis was closed for the remainder of the day."--Ed.]

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Follow-up:
i can confirm this, i was in fact on the train that hit said young man. He was playing chicken with the rollercoasters, and was in the way of the nemesis coaster at its final straight. that particular ride i had intended to sit at the front, but sat with my family to the rear. the coaster hit the young boy at head hight third seat from the right, at the very front of the train. we waited to see what would come on the news but nothing came. after impact the carriage came to a complete stop, the boy didnot move, many people were screaming (quite traumatic for a young 14 year old and his 12 year old sister (at the time) -- Submitted by nashio966 on 7/30/2009

A young boy (under 16) entered a restricted area close to the station and was struck by a car. The boy was treated at the scene, then taken by Air Ambulance to North Staffordshire hospital. The guest sustained lacerations to his head but remained conscious and stable throughout.

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Follow-up:
i was at alton towers on this day and nothing happened to my knowledge....the nemesis was open all day and i was rideing the ride most of the day..if something did happen iam sure that the theme park staff would make a statement and local authorities would be contacted and press.alton towers uphand a safe park and never in all my time gong there have i heard of any accidents happining at alton towers. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 7/12/2004

Alton Towers does have accidents. I know because I had one in 2002 on the Black Hole and was left with some long term injuries. They admitted liability, but it looks like they didn't fix the problem. Still waiting for the compensation to be settled, but I wish they'd just fix the ride. If you want to confirm any of this, email d a y n a l _ @ h o t m a i l . c o m It amazes me that as I was being carried off on a stretcher, people were still being allowed onto the ride. -- Submitted by daynal on 9/18/2005

This is true. -- Submitted by sam0422 on 6/28/2005

Unverified Reports

I think it was on this day. Anyway we were at the park and just after lunch we were heading to spinball whizzer but as we approached it we heard no noise of screaming or the block brakes. we got there and found out that the ride along with all the other rides in this area had stopped. we did not know what this was at the time but as we wondered around the park all the games machines and lights had gone off. WE thought it was a power cut.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

I was there the day it happened There was a power surge when I was on skyride so we got stuck in mid forest we got off to go on the train but it was closed did not know why until bus home scary thought as we could have been on it just 20 minutes later!

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

A girl lost consciousness on Oblivion. The girl in her early twenties rode the vertical drop rollercoaster "Oblivion" at around 4:15. As the shuttle that she was secured too, entered the loading bay, staff immediately noticed that the girl was not breathing and performed CPR on her immediately. Medical staff were on site within two minutes and took over from the ride operators. The Girl was quickly airlifted to North Staffordshire Hospital. The girl was reportedly in a coma. At this time there is no indication that there was any problems with the ride.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

As the train was entering the station a girl stuck out her leg. Her ankle became trapped between the station and the train. She was released and an air ambulance was called. She is currently having reconstuctive surgery on her ankle it was so badly smashed. MORAL: Do NOT stick out your leg at any time whilst on the RMT

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

I was on the Air ride at around midday, the ride was stuck for about and hour and an ambulance came just before we set off. I couldn't see much from where I was but someone was hurt.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

A bottle was thrown from the rapids ride, onto the passing runaway mine train ride. A 26 year old woman obtained serious bruising below her eye. There is an appeal for more information on the linked website as legal action is being taken by the park.

For more information about this incident, visit http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=67702&command=displayContent&sourceNode=67701&contentPK=10055339

i was on black hole at alton towers and everything was sooo fun until i was goin down and it was ok but suddenly the safty bar was digging into me i could hardly breath, it was right under my ribs!It was painful and when i got off the ride i told the operater and he said you should be fine it happens so i went alond with that. A few days later i was all bruised there. i am fine now but will feel unsafe if i go on black hole again! please dont dis alton towers its a great theme park i do want to go again!

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

Repeated head impacts on the seat and general throwing around led to minor symptoms (nausea, headache, blurred vision) of concussion. Also, minor bruising in the elbow region following impact with the body restraint.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

they know it themeselves and i think they should be ashamed if they havent reported it..i had to get 1 stitch in my face.. when it went in the corckscrew someone threw a stone in my face but no one knows who did it..

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

Follow-up:
i saw a rock flying and i was on that train as a matter of fact i swear i dont know how alton towers can cover that up, that is the guests right to safety... -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 5/8/2003

nothing -- Submitted by starmai on 10/4/2003

Everything was fine until after the ride had stopped and the safety bar smashed into my rib cage. I think it knocked me out. When I tried raising my head to ask for medical assistance I couldn't move my neck. It was 15 minutes before help arrived and I was put in a restraint and strapped to a back board. Then I was carried to a first aid place and an ambulance was called. I am presently in a neck collar and I do not know when I will be allowed out of it. It all hurts like hell. My ribs seem to have recovered, but according but I seem to be suffering post traumatic stress disorder. Alton Towers said they 'ran the ride through 3 times' but were 'unable to replicate the accident', and that it was impossible for the ratchett that operated the safety arm to fail. It *is* possible for it to fail, because it did fail. In fact I suspect it didn't engage properly in the first place. My companion says that while we were initially waiting for medical assistance he saw a similar failure where the bar moved further than it was aparantly supposed to - but not to the degree mine moved.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

Follow-up:
all that i saw were a few ambulances around black hole and the line was massive for the ride -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 8/19/2003

the same sort of thing happened to me although not as bad as the ride dropped my saftey bar almost crushed me and i could hardly breath but i got off ok, it can happen and its annoying that they say just because it didnt happen in 3 goes it cant... -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 6/21/2005

hi i was on the nemesis staff the day it happend and it did happen i dont know why the kid was where he was but it happens there was nothing we could do to stop this and the ride stayed shut because the staff and especialy the ride operator was in such a state that it was unfare to put that extra stres on her and the clean up needed to be done in the break run as well as the lad the two people on the front row recived broken legs as far as we are aware the boy was fine and is alive today

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

There was an accident at Nemesis, where a woman's leg was trapped. See this site for a report.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

at first it seemed all right until i heard a loud scream it came 4rmm the front of blade and there was a sudden stop of the ride and ambulances soon arrived it turned out somebody didnt let the safety bar down and went flying forwards

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

A woman came back to the station bleeding very heavily from the nose. It turns out that teenagers in the queue line started throwing coins a passing cars, traveling at 50 mph.

This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

Follow-up:
This is true. -- Submitted by sam0422 on 6/28/2005

If you have additional information that can confirm, clarify or refute any of these reports, please e-mail the editor! (Please don't forget to include the attraction's name in your message.)

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