[Cheeniandab]

By Chris Parsons 12:46 GMT, 25 July 2012

Olympic cable cars break down for nearly 40 minutes leaving tourists and children in sweltering conditions

Dozens of tourists were left suspended over the Thames for almost an hour in sweltering conditions today
when the Olympic cable car broke down.

The £44m Emirates Cable Car, which transports visitors across the River Thames in east London, suffered a
fault this lunchtime, leaving families and children suspended 90ft in the air for over 30 minutes.

Transport for London said the delay was caused by a technical fault with the alarm system.



The cable car broke down at 11.45am and was fixed by 12.18pm, leaving visitors stuck above the Thames for
around 40 minutes after starting the five-minute crossing.

Those travelling on the cable car also had to endure the delay in sweltering heat, as temperatures in London
hit almost 28C.

Tourists about to travel over the river described how families with young children and elderly people emerged
from the cable car looking 'extremely hot and flustered'.

The younger and older people looked like they had suffered more than anyone else up there, as there didn't
seem to be water on board. There were ambulances and British Transport Police waiting at the other end to
tend to those who had got stuck.