At Oaks Amusement Park in Oregon, what started as a day of fun quickly turned into a nightmare. Twenty eight riders found themselves suspended upside down for around 30 minutes when the popular AtmosFEAR ride malfunctioned. The dramatic incident prompted a swift response from Portland Fire and Rescue.
— Portland Fire & Rescue (@PDXFire) June 14, 2024
Firefighters and engineers worked together to manually lower the ride. Fortunately, the rescue was successful, and all riders were safely evacuated and medically checked.
Chris Ryan, celebrating his birthday at the park, described the scene as terrifying. “We were about to board the ride when we saw it stuck and people hanging upside down,” he shared. Instead of risking it, he opted for the Ferris wheel and soon heard announcements of the park’s closure. He captured the event on video and shared three videos on his TikTok account.
Part 1 – Footage of the ride stuck in the air and passengers hanging upside down
@chrisxryan The ride got stuck and everyone is suspeneded upside down. This is terrfying. They just to close the park #scaryride #oakspark ♬ original sound – Chris Ryan
Part 2 – Footage of the rescue
@chrisxryan Replying to @Vanessa Clark 💍💜 ♬ original sound – Chris Ryan
Part 3 – The Final Update
@chrisxryan Replying to @rippinsgirl ♬ original sound – Chris Ryan
Jordan Hardin told KGW “We were just freaking out. People were crying. They were just putting into the universe what they wanted to say for their last words.”
She continued “I’m not even religious, and I said a prayer. I didn’t think I was going to live to see right now.”
Officials confirmed no injuries, though one person with a preexisting condition was hospitalised as a precaution.
Oaks Park thanked first responders and staff for their quick actions. The ride will stay closed while inspectors investigate the malfunction.
