This week I'll be back at Thorpe Park for the pre season press night and to be one of the first people to ride on the all new Derren Brown's Ghost Train!
I was lucky enough to have ridden the train last year when it first opened and for me, it certainly lived up to all the hype. It's unlike anything else I've experienced before and I found it incredibly scary! I had to hold on tight to my Teens arm throughout (much to his annoyance) because this Virtual Reality ride really did take you away beyond the realms of reality and only by holding on tight to someone else was I able to get through it!
It was brilliant.
But it wasn't without it's criticisms. Some people wanted more (are they mad?!) and this year it seems that those people have been listened to!
Yikes!
Remastered for this year, the ride has been revamped and was recently 'tested' out on some so called fearless participants, chosen especially for their perceived ability to withstand shocks and fear!
One terrified participant’s heart rate TREBLED to 183 bpm as they tried out the shocking VR attraction under laboratory conditions.
The below video footage, captured with the approval of the participants, shows Derren Brown experimenting on the subjects, who were the very first to preview the new VR additions to the illusionist’s upgraded Ghost Train - renamed Derren Brown’s Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon.
Derren Brown said: “Over the last few weeks I have been testing out the components of the attraction and decided to run scare tests on a selection of participants who claim they are totally fearless - the reactions have been incredible.
“Visitors to the Ghost Train will experience a heart stopping combination of next generation technology, grand illusion, live action and special-effects, completely unalike anything they will have seen before.
“We are making this bigger, better and scarier than last year. The changes and improvements that have taken place will scare the sh*t out of guests”.
The trials resulted in terrified reactions including spine-tingling screams, falling out of the chair and curling into a ball, with one test even resulting in a VR headset being flung across the room. The average resting heart rate is 60 - 100 bpm - however one subject’s heart rate reached 183 bpm. When combined, the participant’s heart rates reached a total of 1,452 bpm and typically their heart rates increased by 31.9 bpm each.
Matt Sproit, an ex-prison officer said: “I’m used to dealing with terrifying situations, so I was never expecting the VR footage to scare me that much. “When I took off that headset I was physically shaking.”
Stunt woman, Carol Nulty said: “I thought I had to be pretty fearless in my job, but this lived up to expectations, the VR is flawlessly real – you really believe there is a demon in the room with you!
“This is not a ride for the faint hearted.”
Another participant, Emilia Cain-Heritage, said: “As a bungee jumper, I face fear on a regular basis but this was a new level in fear – so, so real and absolutely terrifying.”
Ok, so I'm not sure what I'll be letting myself in for when I go on Thursday but I'm looking forward to it! Just have to make sure there's someone to hold onto!
Derren Brown’s Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon opens on 31 March 2017. For the latest updates on the attraction and advanced booking visit: www.thorpepark.com
FULL RESULTS FROM THE TEST:
Name: Occupation: Heart rate (bpm):
Nick Ferreira Ex-Boxer 138bpm
Joseph Sands Security Guard 129bpm
Alo Raptopoulos Martial Arts 127bpm
Matt Sproit Ex-Prison Officer 112bpm
Matthew Larmond Security Guard 169bpm
Carol Nulty Stunt Woman 145bpm
Freddie Pearce High School Teacher 133bpm
Emilia Cain Bungee Jumper 183bpm
Faye Carmichael Police Detective for Gangs Unit 159bpm
Roxanne Gregory TA Army 157bpm
Ah I can’t wait to try this ride this year