ITV’S ALISON HAMMOND TAKES ON WORLD’S FIRST TRIPLE LAUNCH ROLLER COASTER

Petrified TV presenter is first in UK to ride Cheetah Hunt – a new mega high speed attraction at Busch Gardens Tampa in Florida

This Morning’s showbiz and film expert Alison Hammond - who is also scared of roller coasters - is the first person in the UK to ride Cheetah Hunt, the world’s first triple launch roller coaster.

The high speed ride, which officially launches to the public on Friday (today) in Tampa Bay, Florida will attract thousands of Brits over the next three months, as the ride launches for the busy summer holiday season.

With fast twists and super turns - plus three high speed accelerations - Cheetah Hunt is guaranteed to make riders scream for the entire 90 seconds, much like the terrified TV presenter Hammond did when strapped in to the front row of the roller coaster yesterday at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Hammond, the 36 year old Brummie who was a holiday rep in a former life, admitted that she has been petrified of roller coasters since she was a little girl. Pleasantly surprised once she’d come off Cheetah Hunt, Alison said, “It is officially the fastest ride I have ever ridden and was actually a much smoother ride than expected. I screamed all the way round but would recommend it to everyone... all I can say is awesome!”

Carefully engineered to create thrills for roller coaster riding holiday-goers, the world’s first triple launch roller coaster literally replicates the movement of a Cheetah, pairing man-made thrills with nature’s fastest land animal. By moving at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, the exciting triple launch coaster moves just as a cheetah would, leaving riders feeling exhilarated from the thrill of the chase.

Cheetah Hunt* isn’t just for thrill-seekers…visitors to the attraction can also get up-close to these beautiful cats and marvel at their awesome speed just a whisker away at Cheetah Run, the expansive cheetah habitat where trainers will carry out daily sprints with these high speed animals.

Alongside the new Cheetah Hunt roller coaster, families can also get closer than ever before to the cheetah, literally eye to eye through elevated, glass-panelled viewing areas at Cheetah Run part of the all new ancient realm. Here guests can also explore interactive touch screens to learn even more about these big cats and how the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has been helping endangered cheetahs in the wild since 2005.