Emergency responders quickly came to the aid of visitors at a theme park on Thursday when a roller coaster car carrying passengers got stuck above a daunting 90-degree drop. Rescuers were seen climbing a ladder to reach the stranded passengers, most of whom appeared to be young individuals, including one who seemed significantly younger than the others.
The incident happened at Pleasure Pier’s Iron Shark roller coaster, which had been motionless since approximately 5:30 p.m. local time, leaving the riders stranded for over three hours. As night fell around 8:30 p.m., rescue teams had to use headlamps to safely evacuate the remaining passengers.
The Iron Shark, known as the tallest attraction on the pier, features a massive 100-foot vertical lift hill. According to reports, the passengers stuck on the ride were STEM students from Houston on a senior trip. The coaster typically reaches speeds of 52 mph and requires riders to be at least 42 inches tall to ride.
Live video footage captured firefighters ascending the track to reach the stranded riders, securing them with harnesses one by one. Officials carefully removed safety bars and guards before lowering the passengers onto the ladder for a safe descent.
By 9:10 p.m. local time, all eight passengers were successfully brought down. Terry Turney, the COO of Pleasure Pier, stated that the ride’s halt at the top was a precautionary safety measure triggered by a malfunction. Turney emphasized that guest safety was the top priority and that a thorough inspection of the ride would be conducted before resuming operations.
Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr., who was at the scene, confirmed that the rescued students were being evaluated by medical staff but none required hospitalization. The Pleasure Pier website describes the coaster as having a “beyond-vertical drop,” offering an adrenaline-pumping experience with its steep ascent and thrilling course layout.