‘My son loved Thorpe Park so I climbed UK’s tallest rollercoaster in his memory’

Vanessa ‘Ness’ Hale overcame her fear of heights to climb to the top of Hyperia at Thorpe Park (Picture: Cover Media)

A grieving mum has climbed the UK’s tallest rollercoaster in memory of her son – an even more impressive feat given she’s afraid of heights.

Vanessa ‘Ness’ Hale, 47, climbed a staggering 236ft to the top of Hyperia at Thorpe Park carrying a picture of Luke Westerhold, who took his own life in May 2025.

Luke, who had a passion for rollercoasters, worked at Thorpe Park for a decade after first joining when he was 16.

He watched the record-breaking Hyperia take shape during its construction, and was one of 30 members of staff chosen to have their names engraved on the rollercoaster.

For Ness from Knaphill, clim...