UMVA has learned that a terrifying ordeal unfolded at a Galveston amusement park when eight riders were suspended above a towering roller coaster for more than three hours before heroic firefighters rescued them one by one.
At approximately 5:35 p.m. Thursday, emergency crews raced to Pleasure Pier after the Iron Shark roller coaster seized mid‑lift, leaving passengers dangling high above the ground.
Firefighters deployed a ladder truck and, with meticulous care, lowered each stranded guest into safety harnesses, a painstaking process that stretched over three and a half hours.
The malfunction, captured in real time, sent shockwaves through the park as riders hung helplessly near the 100‑foot vertical climb.
Among the stranded were students on a field trip organized by two local STEM charter schools, adding a chilling layer of urgency to the rescue.
Administrators of the schools have expressed profound gratitude for the swift response of first responders and park personnel, while families are being kept informed.
Park officials have not yet revealed the exact cause of the failure, but the ride’s design was engineered to halt immediately upon malfunction, an attribute that prevented a worse outcome.
In a statement, the park’s chief operating officer emphasized that safety was the top priority and that a comprehensive inspection will precede any return to service.
