Adventure Island: Riders stranded halfway up roller coaster after ride breaks down at Southend theme

THIS is the moment roller coaster riders were left stuck in the air after a 72ft-high ride broke down. Terrifying video shows The Rage roller coaster at Southend theme park Adventure Island at a standstill.

THIS is the moment roller coaster riders were left stuck in the air after a 72ft-high ride broke down.

Terrifying video shows The Rage roller coaster at Southend theme park Adventure Island at a standstill.

The ride in Essex broke down leaving one of the cars stuck dangling vertically from the track.

A clip, posted to social media shows worried staff attending to the machine.

The group is sitting at a 90-degree angle facing the sky.

Engineers were seen trying to evacuate the ride's passengers using an emergency escape platform lift.

Adventure Island tonight said: "Just after 2pm today a carriage on Rage stopped on the lift.

"Our highly trained team immediately initiated our ride evacuation plan, which has been certified by the Health and Safety Executives and Essex Fire and Rescue.

"All passengers were returned to the ground, safe and sound and reunited with their families within 40 minutes."

The destination is described on TripAdvisor as the U.K's No.1 free admission fun park.

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In a previous list of the country's best amusement parks, it came in third place, beating some of the more famous parks like Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and Alton Towers, which were fifth and 10th in the list.

The rankings were produced as part of the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards, meaning its position was based on public opinions.

The "biggest and best" ride, according to the theme park's website is Rage, which has loops, twists and "flat-out speeds".

The ride was said to be the inspiration for Thorpe Park's Saw.

The Sun has approached Adventure Island for comment.

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