A professional roller coaster rider who earns a six-figure salary by travelling the world and vlogging his adventures on YouTube is defying his fear of heights to lead an extraordinary life. Sean Evans, a 33-year-old content creator from Stoke-on-Trent, admits to having had a fear of heights since childhood, even closing aeroplane blinds to avoid looking outside during family trips. However, after challenging himself to ride a roller coaster during a secondary school visit to Alton Towers, his passion for theme parks was ignited.
During the lockdown, Sean found solace in watching theme park videos, leading him to start a YouTube channel called Lift Hills and Thrills. Despite suffering from vertigo, which triggers debilitating migraines, he conquered his fear by riding Nemesis at Alton Towers 64 times in six hours, earning him a park record. Sean’s YouTube channel has since gained over 7.2 million views, and his roller coaster journey has taken him to approximately 50 theme parks worldwide.
His dedication to pushing past his fear while exploring new heights has seen him conquer Europe’s tallest roller coaster, Red Force in Spain, and earn significant success on his channel. With over 20,000 subscribers and expectations for further growth, Sean is embracing his dream job. He described his passion for roller coasters and vlogging as not feeling like work but rather a joy to share with his audience.
As Sean continues to embark on thrilling adventures, he aims to visit more theme parks globally, combining his love for films and roller coasters. He encourages those facing fears to have a mental conversation with themselves and trust that they will be okay. Sean’s story of overcoming his fear of heights to pursue his passion is an inspiring example for those striving to conquer their own challenges and live their dream.