A school field trip to the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier turned into a nerve-racking ordeal Thursday evening when eight students spent hours stranded near the top of the Iron Shark roller coaster before firefighters brought them down one at a time.
Crews used harnesses and a tower ladder to reach the immobilized train and methodically lower each rider to the pier. After all that unwanted "extra hang time," officials said everyone made it down without serious injuries.
Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela said firefighters were dispatched shortly after 5:30 p.m. when the coaster train stopped during its initial climb. The rescue, which required securing every passenger before moving them, stretched late into the night, according to ABC13.
Who Was On Board And How They Were Checked
Houston Independent School District confirmed that all riders were students on a field trip organized by Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and Energized for STEM Academy High School. The district said in a statement to Houston Public Media that officials stayed in direct contact with families throughout the incident.
Once the students were finally back on solid ground, they were evaluated for dehydration and appeared to be doing well, according to the district.
Park Response And Ride Details
Pleasure Pier chief operating officer Terry Turney said the Iron Shark experienced a malfunction during its initial ascent and that the system stopped the train "as designed." He added that the ride would undergo a thorough inspection before reopening, as reported by The Guardian.
According to the park's website, the Iron Shark features a 100-foot vertical lift, a beyond-vertical drop and four inversions, details provided by Pleasure Pier.
Why The Rescue Took So Long
Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang shortly before the train came to a stop, and said a ride operator attempted to use the controls to bring the train back down before calling for emergency assistance. Chief Varela said the rescue was complicated by heavy crowds on the pier and the timing around school release, which added to the logistical challenge, according to reporting syndicated on Atlanta News First.
Aftermath
The Pleasure Pier was evacuated during the rescue, and the Iron Shark remained closed while technicians and investigators inspect the ride, FOX 26 Houston reported.
Fire officials also said the manlift normally used for evacuations experienced mechanical issues, which meant crews had to rely on the department's Tower 1 engine instead. Every rider was checked on scene, and officials said everyone was doing OK, according to USA TODAY/AOL.
