Alton Towers, a prominent theme park located in Staffordshire, faced disruptions on the opening day of its latest ride, Toxicator, due to a burst pipe that led to a leak of brown liquid near the ride’s entrance. The incident occurred on Saturday, contributing to frustration among visitors who had been eagerly awaiting the debut of the attraction.

Reports from guests indicated that a “brown liquid” was leaking in the vicinity of the entrance, prompting concerns about its nature. However, a spokesperson for Alton Towers clarified that the leak was not sewage-related but resulted from a burst pipe nearby. The park confirmed that the ride operations were briefly suspended for approximately two hours to manage the situation. “Due to an unexpected burst pipe near the ride, Toxicator briefly paused operation whilst our teams swiftly dealt with the issue. The ride and surrounding area are now fully re-open and welcoming guests,” the spokesperson stated.

Ben Keable, a visitor from Cheslyn Hay, shared his experience during the incident. He reported that he and his son had been waiting in line for about 70 minutes and were almost next to board when the leak began. “We were standing under the ride waiting when a steady trickle of water started flowing by our feet. We thought it was water from the ride above as water was dripping from the fountains on the ride,” he recounted, adding that the situation escalated into a puddle at their feet before they were ordered to leave. Keable expressed disappointment, stating that the lack of an offer for fast pass access, especially after their lengthy wait, added to the frustration of what he described as a “nightmare day at the park.” Ultimately, he noted that due to multiple rides being closed that day, they managed only five rides over ten hours.

Another visitor, Matthew Lancaster, 27, from Southport, Merseyside, also encountered the unforeseen challenges. He remarked, “I’m an avid theme park goer and it was very unfortunate what happened. That definitely wasn’t on the bucket list.”

Toxicator, previously referred to as Project Ocean, is notable for being the world’s only top spin ride elevated above ground level, standing at an impressive 78 feet tall. Following the burst pipe incident on Saturday, queries about the ride’s operational status on Sunday were addressed by Alton Towers, which confirmed that it was open and functioning normally with a reported queue time of 50 minutes.

Source: Noah Wire Services