The new ‘Toxicator’ ride at Alton Towers was forced to close on its opening day after a burst pipe spewed ‘brown liquid’ near frustrated visitors.
Riders were left ‘so disappointed’ after being evacuated when sewage leaked at the entrance to the rollercoaster on Saturday.
Bits of dirt built up as stewards were seen blocking off the ride with visitors, some who had queued for hours, trudging past the muck.
The 78ft tall ride, which can hold 500 thrill-seekers per hour, opened two hours later.
Ben Keable, who had been queueing for about 70 minutes, said: ‘We thought it was water from the ride above as water was dripping from the fountains on the ride.
‘The steady flow became more of a puddle around our feet.’
He said they were told to leave the ride ‘with no offer to come back with a fast pass given we had waited 70 minutes.
‘This was just a small part of a nightmare day at the park. My son was so disappointed’.
Videos posted on social media showed visitors’ confusion as brown liquid quickly flowed from the drains.
TikTok user ridecomparisons said: ‘[We] have just been on the Toxicator and the whole queue’s been evacuated. We didn’t know why.
‘The one ride we could go on because the queue wasn’t too bad.’
‘These rides always having teething issues but I’ve never seen a top spin explode the drains.’
He added: ‘It smells of s***’.
A loudspeaker attached to the ride can be heard saying: ‘I need you to make your way to the nearest exit to venture elsewhere. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
‘Toxicator is experiencing a delay that unfortunately cannot be resolved in the foreseeable future and has ceased operation.’
An Alton Towers spokesperson said: ‘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 Toxicator is the only topspin style ride in the park to be suspended above the ground, allowing passers by to walk underneath it and get up close to the terrifying experience.
Riders are seated back-to-back before being flipped upside down where they will be suspended over a ‘pool of toxic alien acid’.
The theme park, based in Alton, Staffordshire, sees more than 2million visitors each year.
Earlier this month, the largest theme park in Wales announced it was shutting its gates after 40 years,
Oakwood Theme Park, in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, said it reached the ‘difficult decision’ due to financial challenges caused by rising costs and declining visitor numbers.