Eight Texas students rescued after being stranded on 100ft-high roller coaster for three hours
Eight passengers were rescued after becoming stranded more than 100 feet in the air on the Iron Shark roller coaster at Galveston’s Pleasure Pier in Texas.
Emergency crews were called on Thursday evening (28 May) after the ride stopped mid-ascent above a terrifying 90-degree drop, leaving riders trapped for more than three hours.
The roller coaster reportedly stopped at around 5:30 pm. local time. By 8:30 pm, rescue workers, who climbed ladders to reach the stalled carriage, used head torches while bringing the remaining passengers down safely.
Live footage showed fire service officials carefully climbing the track, securing each rider with a harness before removing lap bars and shoulder restraints. Passengers were then lowered onto a ladder and guided down rung by rung.
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By 9:10 pm. local time, all eight riders, who are attendees of two schools in nearby Houston, had been rescued safely.
Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr., who attended the scene, said the rescued students were checked by medical teams, though none required hospital treatment.
"Of course they were shaken up from climbing that ladder down, being in that hot sun," he told a press conference. "They have been checked for dehydration, and everyone seems to be doing pretty good."
Terry Turney, chief operating officer of Pleasure Pier, said the ride stopped as part of a built-in safety response after a malfunction.
"The ride experienced a malfunction at its initial ascent. However, as designed, it immediately stopped to keep everyone safe," Turney he said in a statement reported by local TV news station KHOU 11.
"Our focus immediately shifted to the safety of our guests. Therefore, we contacted the Fire Department to assist, ensuring all guests were safely removed from the ride."
"A thorough inspection of the ride will take place before it is placed back in service," Turney added.
The Houston independent schools district said in a statement: "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."
The official Pleasure Pier website describes the attraction as featuring a 'beyond-vertical drop'.
"The Iron Shark will attack when least expected with its 100-foot vertical lift and beyond-vertical drop," the website advertises.
"Tracking at 52 miles per hour, the vehicles will glide the 1,246-foot coaster track, which includes a diving loop, a greater than vertical drop and four full inversions."
Pleasure pier adds on its website that people 'must' be 48 inches tall in order to ride the Iron Shark.
Tyla has reached out to Pleasure Pier for further comment.
Rhiannon Ingle