Fire crews rescue 28 people stuck upside down 100 meters in the air on ‘frightening’ amusement park ride

Emergency crews rescued 28 people from a “frightening situation” after they became stuck upside down 100 meters in the air on an amusement park ride.

Authorities in Oregon rescued amusement parkgoers – whose days turned into no fun as they were left dangling from the AtmosFEAR ride in the terrifying ordeal. A man visiting for his birthday was queuing for the car when it got stuck and said they heard people saying “Oh my God, I’m upside down” when it became clear the car was stuck.

Chris Ryan and his wife, from near Gresham, decided to leave because of “how scary it was” and climbed the big wheel before a warning notice confirmed the park would be closed. Visitors were told to evacuate the park immediately.

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Portland Fire and Rescue told X that firefighters were working with Oaks Park engineers to manually lower the ride — but crews were preparing to manually lower trapped visitors with high-angle ropes if necessary. All riders were being evacuated and medically assessed and no injuries were reported – but one with a pre-existing medical condition was taken straight to hospital as a precaution. Firefighters later posted an image of the race successfully returning to ground level.

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The ride, called AtmosFEAR, first opened in 2021 at the century-old theme park. It works like a pendulum, having the ability to swing riders completely upside down. When the ride stopped, park staff immediately called 911, and emergency personnel arrived about 25 minutes later, the park’s statement said. Park maintenance workers were able to return the car to its unloading position within minutes of first responders arriving.

According to Portland Fire and Rescue, there were 30 people on board. The amusement park produced a different figure, claiming there were 28 riders on the AtmosFEAR – which since opening had no previous incidents. The ride will now remain closed until further notice while manufacturer and state inspectors are brought in to determine why it failed mid-ride and if it is safe to reopen.

A statement from Oaks Park said: “We would like to express our deepest appreciation to the first responders and our staff for taking prompt action which led to a positive outcome today, and to the rest of the park guests who quickly followed the instructions to release the park. to make way for emergency responders to deal with the situation.”

Oaks Park first opened in 1905. Its website says it offers “a uniquely Portland blend of modern thrills and turn-of-the-century charm on a road that has delighted generations of Northwesters.”