Additional Coverage:
- Texas roller coaster malfunction leaves 8 riders stranded 100 feet in the air for hours (nbcnews.com)
Eight passengers were rescued Thursday evening after the Iron Shark roller coaster at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier became stuck nearly 100 feet in the air during its vertical ascent. The ride, which halted mid-climb due to a malfunction, left the group stranded for several hours.
The passengers, all students on a field trip organized by Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and STEM Academy High School in the Houston area, were seated in two rows of four, facing skyward just before reaching the top when the ride stopped.
Galveston Fire Department crews arrived around 5:30 p.m. to conduct the rescue. Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr. described the operation, explaining that each rider was individually secured in a safety harness and carefully lowered to the ground in a truck basket. Despite being shaken, the students reportedly felt relief and joy upon reaching solid footing.
“The transfer from the roller coaster to the rescue basket was the most critical phase,” Varela noted, emphasizing concerns about exposure to the sun and potential dehydration during the prolonged rescue.
City officials confirmed that the final passenger was safely extracted shortly after 9 p.m. Pleasure Pier’s Chief Operating Officer Terry Turney stated that the ride’s emergency safety protocols worked as intended, immediately stopping the coaster to protect guests once the malfunction occurred. An inspection of the ride is now underway.
The Iron Shark coaster, known for its steel track spanning 1,246 feet and a thrilling 100-foot vertical drop, can reach speeds up to 52 miles per hour. Chief Varela praised the fire department team for their professionalism and readiness throughout the rescue.
“The crews were top-notch today,” he said. “They’re well-trained and prepared for situations like this.”