The Galveston Fire Department responded Thursday to an incident at Pleasure Pier, where eight people became trapped on the Iron Shark roller coaster. According to authorities, the emergency occurred while the ride was making its initial ascent. Rescue crews used a ladder truck to safely evacuate passengers one by one, using safety harnesses.
Initially, firefighters reported that one person had been rescued and that they would continue working to bring down the remaining passengers, as the procedure only allowed for one person to be evacuated at a time. Authorities later provided an update that three people had been brought to safety, while efforts continued to rescue the remaining five.
Galveston Fire Department Chief Mike Varela arrived at the scene and spoke with media at the entrance of the pier on Seawall Boulevard.
Pleasure Pier issued a statement attributed to Terry Turney, the park’s director of operations, which read:
“The ride experienced a malfunction during its initial ascent; however, as it was designed to do, it stopped immediately to keep everyone safe. Our focus immediately shifted to the safety of our guests. We contacted the Fire Department to assist and ensure everyone was evacuated safely. The ride will undergo a thorough inspection before returning to operation.”
No injuries have been reported at this time.