UK NEWS

FAMILY TERROR AFTER RIDE BREAKS NEAR TO LION'S DEN

TERROR: The ride stopped near to the lions

Tuesday August 18,2009

By Sara Dixon

TERRIFIED families spent hours trapped on a theme-park ride just feet from a lions’ enclosure after a power cut yesterday.

Their ordeal at Chessington World of Adventures began after a power failure caused the rides to stop midway through.

Panic-stricken passengers suspended close to the lions on the Safari Skyway aerial train had to negotiate precarious 20ft drops to safety.

Parents watched in horror from the ground as their young children were trapped on roller coasters at the Surrey park.

Mother-of-two Amanda Vernon, who had been enjoying a day out with her son Max, said: “People were on Rameses Revenge suspended at a 40-degree angle.

“They couldn’t get them off because the ride wouldn’t move but it kept jerking. Every time it jerked the people on board screamed in panic.” About 50 were stuck on the Safari Skyway monorail for two hours after the power failed, leaving the surrounding area without electricity for the entire afternoon.

Christine Ralevic, her niece Sasha, 11, and nephew Ellis, 10, were riding in one car when it came to a halt almost above the lions.

They climbed down ladders into the zoo’s neighbouring sea-lion enclosure.

Mrs Ralevic said: “We were extremely high and had the lions and tigers on one side of us and the sea lions on the other. It was very scary and my legs were shaking.

“There were around 10 people in our car and we were all frightened.”

Chessington said no visitors were hurt. It was the second time in three days that the park has been hit by a power cut.