28 people were stuck upside down for more than 20 minutes after an amusement park ride in Oregon malfunctioned.
On Friday, the AtmosFEAR ride stopped working at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland around 2:55 pm, according to a statement issued by the amusement park on X.
‘Oaks Park staff immediately initiated emergency procedures and called 911,’ the statement read. ‘Emergency responders arrived at approximately 3:20 pm.
After medical evaluation by paramedics, all riders were released from the park except one. This person, who had pre-existing medical conditions, was transported to the hospital as a precaution.
Recent high school graduates Daniel Allen and Jordan Harding told local NBC affiliate KGW that they were celebrating their recent achievement at the amusement park, and the AtmosFEAR was the first ride on their list.
28 people were stuck upside down for more than 20 minutes after an amusement park ride in Oregon malfunctioned
‘People were crying. They were just putting into the universe what they wanted to say for their last words,’ said Jordan Harding, a recent high school graduate who was celebrating her achievement at the park
‘I was excited to go on,’ Allen told the news station. ‘When you get stuck up there, I don’t think you’re so excited anymore.’
Harding said she had a gut feeling that something was wrong with the machine when they were dangling upside down a few seconds longer than they should have been.
‘We were just freaking out,’ she said. ‘People were crying. They were just putting into the universe what they wanted to say for their last words.’
She also said that being suspended upside down started to become uncomfortable as the blood rushed from her waist to her head.
‘That position is just so uncomfortable physically. My entire waist below was asleep,’ she told the station.
Harding showed her appreciation for the fire department by hugging the first responder that saved her life.
‘Such a relieving feeling,’ she said. ‘I’m standing on the ground right now. There was a moment not that long ago that I didn’t think that would happen again.’
Oaks Park’s AtmosFEAR is a popular giant pendulum ride offering 180 or 360-degree swings.
Pictured: First responders arrive at Oaks Park for a ride that is stuck with multiple riders in Portland
AtmosFEAR will be closed while the park investigates the cause with the ride’s manufacturer and state inspectors
This “showstopping extreme attraction” began operation in 2021 with a spotless safety record, according to the park.
The park emphasizes that its standard emergency response plan functioned well during Friday’s malfunction.
AtmosFEAR will be closed while the park investigates the cause with the ride’s manufacturer and state inspectors.