At least eight people riding a roller coaster in Wisconsin were stuck while hanging upside down for over three hours over the weekend.
The local authorities in Wisconsin are now investigating the cause of the mysterious malfunction.
8 Roller Coaster Riders Stuck for Over 3 Hours
As per a report by NPR, eight brave roller coaster riders found themselves in an unexpected predicament, hanging upside down for over three agonizing hours during a festival in Wisconsin over the weekend.
The harrowing incident occurred during the Forest County festival in Crandon, wherein thrill enthusiasts eagerly lined up for an adrenaline-fueled experience. The local fire department says the oscillating roller coaster, the Fireball, was on its way to slide down from its vertical loop when it abruptly halted.
According to The Guardian, the Carndon fire department discloses that rescue workers responded to the scene after receiving a report that eight passengers were stuck in a ride. When the responders arrived, they witnessed eight roller coaster riders in a gruelingly position, hanging upside down.
The local authorities say the coaster halted "near the top of the loop with passengers being held in an inverted position by safety harnesses."
And as such, the firefighters at the scene asked for help from "specialized teams" to rescue passengers stuck in a high position. They used firetruck ladders to reach the thrill-seekers. And from there, they secured them before releasing the safety bars holding them in place.
The fire department explains, "Due to the release mechanism of safety equipment on individual cars, all individuals in a car needed to be properly secured prior to the release of safety equipment." The local authorities say that one of the passengers had to be taken to the hospital after getting back on the ground.
The procedure, which sounds complicated, took hours before the passengers could get their feet back on the ground. It took them nearly three and a half hours before they escaped the coaster.
Wisconsin Officials Investigate the Roller Coaster Mechanical Failure
The cause of this harrowing ordeal is still shrouded in mystery, leaving investigators scrambling for answers. According to Fox News Online, Wisconsin has started an investigation to investigate the cause of this hair-raising roller coaster fiasco.
The local fire department says that the ride operator says the cause of the ride malfunction, which left riders hanging upside down, is a "mechanical failure." However, the authorities are leaving no stone unturned.
Wisconsin state officials are now digging deeper into the incident. Department of Safety and Professional Services spokesperson John Beard told Fox News they are investigating the roller coaster mishap over the weekend. On Monday, July 3, an inspector has already checked the scene. However, as of this writing, they have yet to disclose their findings.
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