Rescue crews rescued eight students who were stuck for hours on the Iron Shark roller coaster at the Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas, on Thursday.
Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr. stated that at 5:37 p.m. firefighters received a report that eight people were stuck on the Iron Shark roller coaster.
The Houston Independent School District (HISD) confirmed that among the eight passengers were students who participated in an excursion organized by Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and STEM Academy High School.
HISD released a statement Thursday night that, among other things, stated:
“We are grateful that all students, staff and escorts are safe. The school administration is in direct contact with the families of all students who were on this trip.”
The Eyewitness News crew reviewed footage from their live camera in Galveston and determined that the ride was stopped at 5:21 p.m., reports ABC7news.
Iron Shark, a roller coaster located at the Pleasure Pier, is the tallest attraction in the park and has a vertical climb of about 30 meters.
Aerial footage captured by SkyEye13 showed that the amusement park was closed during the rescue operation. The Galveston Fire Department’s Tower 1 fire engine was deployed at the pier so rescuers could safely carry out the operation.
Landry’s Inc., the owner of Pleasure Pier, confirmed that the attraction experienced a technical malfunction, but that the ride stopped exactly as intended in such situations.
“Our immediate priority became the safety of our guests. Therefore, we called in the fire department to assist with the evacuation and ensure that all visitors are safely removed from the attraction. A thorough inspection of the ride will be conducted before it is reopened,” the statement said.
(TYPE/Source: N1/Photo: Screenshot)
