Eight passengers were rescued by fire fighters after a roller coaster at Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas malfunctioned May 28: “Those crews were top-notch today.”
ByMay 30, 2026 8:05 PM
| Updated May 31, 2026 12:10 AM
Tags8 Rescued After Roller Coaster Malfunction Left Riders Suspended 100 Feet Above Ground for Hours
Eight roller coaster riders have been brought to safety.
After a malfunction caused the Iron Shark roller coaster at Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas to come to a stop 100 feet in the air May 28, all eight riders were rescued following the hours long ordeal.
The fire department was called just after 5:00 p.m. local time after the ride experienced a “malfunction on its initial ascent,” chief operating officer of Pleasure Pier Terry Turney said in a statement, per NBC News. “However, as designed, it immediately stopped to keep everyone safe. Our focus immediately shifted to the safety of our eight guests.”
He added, “Therefore, we contacted the fire department to assist, ensuring all guests were safely removed from the ride."
Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr. said crews arrived around 5:30 p.m. to rescue the riders, where one by one they were placed in safety harnesses and guided into a truck basket, which then lowered them to the ground.
“Once they made it up there, they were able to use their skills to calm everyone down,” Varela said of the rescue team, “and reassure them that the equipment being used would keep them safe.”
Noting the riders were “shaken up,” he added they “felt a sense of joy as well once their feet hit the ground.”
The Iron Shark roller coaster reaches speeds of up to 52 miles per hour and features a 100-foot vertical drop, according to the Pleasure Pier website.
Photo by: Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Though footage captured the terrifying moment where the passengers—identified by the Houston Independent School District as students from Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and STEM Academy High School, according to NBC News—were stuck face-up on the ride’s vertical incline, Varela noted he feared for the their exposure to the sun, as well as the possibility of dehydration.
“Those crews were top-notch today,” Varela said. “I can’t say enough about them. They’re well trained; they’re ready to go when called upon.”
As for the Iron Shark roller coaster, Turney noted that “a thorough inspection of the ride is currently underway,” in the statement, adding, "We can’t thank the fire department enough for their quick response and assistance.”
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