Lightwater Valley has dismissed a ride operator who activated a rollercoaster while it was being checked by another employee.
Sasha Higgins was inspecting a car on the Treetop Twister ride when another operator dispatched it from the station as ‘a joke’.
It is understood that she was not restrained within the car when it left the station, but was subsequently stopped some 13 metres above ground.
Miss Higgins told the Northern Echo newspaper: “Luckily another ride attendant heard me and stopped the ride.”
She said she was stranded for “what felt like an hour”, and has subsequently been signed off work for stress by a doctor.
‘Experienced’
Lightwater Valley said that the employee who dispatched the car was both “senior” and “experienced”, but that it had dismissed them immediately following the incident.
A spokesman for the North Yorkshire theme park said: “We sincerely apologise to the member of staff for what happened.
“We have always been and continue to be committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all our visitors and employees.
“Following this incident, our main concern was the welfare of the ride attendant who was checked by trained first aiders.
“There were no injuries but she was understandably shaken by the experience and we have remained in contact with her.
The park added that it would not tolerate behaviour which puts employees or visitors at risk.