SHOCKED mum Susan Burke has told how she thought she was going to die when a roller coaster at Blackpool's pleasure beach began to catch fire.

Her terror was captured on camera by BBC staff recording the docu-soap Pleasure Beach, now showing on Monday nights.

Mrs Burke, 49, had to climb 25ft down a ladder when the Tokado Express ride came to a halt during a visit to the resort on the Bank Holiday of August 25 last year.

She collapsed and passed out when she reached the ground with her 13-year-old son Jamie, and has vowed never to go on another ride.

Her anguish was filmed by the BBC1 camera crew who spoke to her immediately after her ordeal and TV viewers can expect to see the incident later this month.

The mum-of-two's terrifying experience brought back memories of a personal tragedy more than 20 years ago, when her 18-month-old son Jonathan died from a fractured skull after falling 5ft from a ladder.

Mrs Burke, from Steady's Lane, Stanton Harcourt, near Witney, said: "I went to Blackpool with my son and boyfriend Mark for what I thought would be an enjoyable weekend but it turned into a nightmare. "Jamie and I were in a carriage about 25ft up on a ride when it ground to a halt and smoke started to come from underneath the carriage in front of us.

"It was absolutely terrifying and I honestly thought we were all going to die. Staff put a ladder next to our carriage but it was moving as they helped me down.

"It brought back terrible memories for me about my baby son who died in1976 when he fell from a ladder and when I reached the ground my knees buckled and I passed out.

"The Pleasure Beach bosses offered us free tickets for other rides but I told them I would never be coming back.

"Then, just as I was starting to come round I was interviewed by the BBC for the new TV show and I expect to be featured later this month."

Mrs Burke added that she had no plans to take legal action against Pleasure Beach bosses.

She said: "My son was getting ready to jump to the ground. He is much more wary now and I hope it hasn't affected him too much."

The six-part fly-on-the-wall documentary series began last Monday. Mrs Burke said she expected to be featured in episode four.

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