Firefighters had to rescue eight people on Thursday after they dangled for hours 100 feet in the air at the top of a stuck roller coaster at the Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas.
At around 5:30 p.m., the eight people, all students in the Houston Independent School District, got stuck on the Iron Shark ride at Pleasure Pier, facing straight up into the sky at the peak of the roller coaster’s ascent.
After they got stuck, Pleasure Pier called the Galveston Fire Department and evacuated the park. A rescue crew then used a tower truck, which reaches a height of up to 105 feet, to remove the students from the ride one by one.
According to KHOU News, it took the firefighters more than three hours to get all of the students down. Fire officials said the lengthy time it took to get them all down was due to a methodical, slow rescue process that took about 20 minutes per student. Firefighters safely strapped each student into a harness during the rescue, then carefully removed them from their seats and brought them down.
“Of course they were shaken up from climbing that ladder down, being in that hot sun,” said Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela. “They have been checked for dehydration and everyone seems to be doing pretty good.”
The 8 people who got stuck were all students on a field trip
The students were on a field trip organized by Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and STEM Academy High School, two Houston Independent School District charter schools.
“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 district said in a statement. “We are thankful for the rescue efforts of the first responders and park personnel.”
Terry Turney, Chief Operating Officer of Pleasure Pier, said the ride came to a unexpected halt due to a malfunction.
“The ride experienced a malfunction at its initial ascent, however, as designed, it immediately stopped to keep everyone safe,” Turney told KHOU News in a statement.
“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.”