On Friday, emergency crews in Oregon rescued 28 people who had been dangling upside down high on a ride at a century-old amusement park for about half an hour.
Portland Fire and Rescue reported on the social platform X that firefighters collaborated with engineers at Oaks Park to manually lower the ride. Crews had also prepared to conduct a high-angle rope rescue if necessary. All riders are being evacuated and medically evaluated, with no reports of injuries so far.
One rider, who had a pre-existing medical condition, was taken to the hospital for further evaluation as a precaution, Oaks Amusement Park said in a statement posted on social media. Medics released all other passengers.
The ride, called AtmosFEAR, works like a pendulum and is capable of flipping riders completely upside down.
Chris Ryan and his wife from nearby Gresham were at the park for her birthday. He told The Associated Press in a Facebook post that they had just planned to ride the AtmosFEAR when they saw it was stuck and heard people saying, “Oh my God, they’re upside down.”
Also Read: Man Comforts Wife Amid Fireworks, Ignoring Crying Baby; Video Sparks Viral Outrage
They decided to leave because “the situation was scary,” he said. Finally, they boarded the Ferris wheel and heard an announcement over the loudspeaker that the park was closed and people had to evacuate.
NEW: Around 30 people were stuck upside down on a ride at the Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon.
It happened on the first day the park opened for the season.
The ride, called “AtmosFEAR,” got stuck, and the riders were hanging upside down for about 15 minutes, about 50… pic.twitter.com/5cqkeQTsK5
— 🇺🇸 Larry 🇺🇸 (@InterStarMedia) June 15, 2024
When the ride stopped, park staff immediately called 911 and emergency personnel arrived about 25 minutes later, according to a park news release. Park maintenance workers were able to return the car to the unloading position a few minutes after emergency personnel arrived.
Portland Fire said about 30 people were on board. According to the amusement park’s announcement, there were 28 riders.
The ride has been in use since 2021 and has had no accidents before, the park said. It will remain closed temporarily. The park said it is working with the vehicle’s manufacturer and state inspectors to determine the cause of the stop.
“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the first responders and our staff for their quick actions that led to a positive outcome today, as well as to other park guests who quickly followed instructions to clear the park so that first responders could provide care. of the situation,” it said.
Oaks Park first opened in 1905. Its website says it offers Portland’s unique blend of modern excitement and midcentury charm that has delighted generations of Northwest residents.
Also Read: IIM Amritsar Students’ Mess Hall Sleep-In Highlights This Unique Problem | WATCH
