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In a dramatic incident at a Texas amusement park, eight individuals found themselves suspended near the apex of a towering roller coaster, waiting for more than three hours before being rescued by firefighters. This ordeal unfolded at Pleasure Pier in Galveston, as reported by officials.
The Galveston Police Department received a call around 5:35 p.m. on Thursday, alerting them to the malfunction of the Iron Shark roller coaster. Promptly, emergency services sprang into action at the popular amusement destination.
There were eight passengers on the roller coaster when it unexpectedly came to a halt. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the situation was handled with precision and care.
Rescue operations involved the Galveston Fire Department, which deployed a ladder truck to reach the immobilized riders. Utilizing safety harnesses, firefighters meticulously evacuated each person one at a time, a painstaking task that extended over three and a half hours.
In a related incident, guests at Six Flags were left stranded 245 feet in the air after a power outage necessitated an emergency evacuation of the coaster.
The Iron Shark roller coaster malfunctioned during its initial ascent, leaving eight riders stranded high above the pier. (FOX 26 Houston)
The malfunction was captured live by local television stations, showing passengers stranded near the top of the ride’s 100-foot vertical lift hill.
The Houston Independent School District confirmed that some of the riders were students participating in a field trip organized by Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and Energized for STEM Academy High School, two HISD in-district charter schools, FOX 26 Houston reported.
“We are grateful that all students, staff, and chaperones are safe. School administration is in direct contact with the families of all students who were on the trip. We are thankful for the rescue efforts of the first responders and park personnel,” the district said in a statement.
STARTLING FOOTAGE FROM AMUSEMENT PARK SHOWS THRILL RIDE HALTED AS GUESTS WAIT IN MIDAIR
Firefighters used a ladder truck and safety harnesses to rescue passengers one by one from the stalled roller coaster. (FOX 26 Houston)
Officials have not said what caused the ride to malfunction.
“The ride experienced a malfunction at its initial ascent,” Pleasure Pier COO Terry Turney said in a statement. “However, as designed, it immediately stopped to keep everyone safe.”
Eight passengers were stranded near the top of the Iron Shark roller coaster for more than three hours after the ride malfunctioned at Galveston’s Pleasure Pier. (Galveston Fire Department)
“Our focus immediately shifted to the safety of our guests,” Turney continued. “Therefore, we contacted the Fire Department to assist, ensuring all guests were safely removed from the ride.”
Turney said the ride will undergo a thorough inspection before returning to service.
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