Emergency responders sprang into action to assist visitors at a theme park on Thursday when a roller coaster carriage got stuck above a daunting 90-degree drop. Images from Pleasure Pier’s Iron Shark roller coaster depicted rescue workers using a ladder to reach the stranded passengers. Among the eight individuals trapped on the ride were mostly young people, including one who appeared notably younger than the rest.
The roller coaster had been motionless since approximately 5:30 p.m. local time, leaving the passengers stranded for over three hours. As night descended around 8:30 p.m., rescuers had to utilize head torches to safely evacuate the remaining riders.
Known as the tallest ride on the pier, the Iron Shark features a towering 100-foot vertical lift hill. The passengers, reported to be STEM students from Houston on a senior trip, were eventually brought down to safety by fire service officials who carefully secured them with harnesses.
By 9:10 p.m., all eight passengers were successfully rescued. Pleasure Pier’s COO, Terry Turney, confirmed that the ride’s halt at the top was a precautionary measure triggered by a malfunction to ensure everyone’s safety. A comprehensive inspection will be conducted before the ride is operational again.
Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr., present at the scene, verified that the rescued students were being evaluated by medical personnel, with no need for hospitalization reported. The Pleasure Pier website describes the coaster as having a “beyond-vertical drop,” offering an exhilarating experience with its 52 mph speed, diving loop, vertical drop, and four inversions.
