Overview
- The Iron Shark stopped on its initial ascent on Thursday around 5:21 p.m., and the coaster’s safety system held the train in place when a malfunction occurred.
- Galveston firefighters performed a technical, multi-hour ladder-and-harness evacuation after a manlift normally used for rescues experienced mechanical problems.
- All eight people onboard, reported by local outlets as students on a school trip, were lowered one by one and checked by medical personnel with no hospitalizations reported.
- Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr. said crews used the department’s Tower 1 engine to reach riders on the track and described the operation as a challenging rescue at height.
- Pleasure Pier said the ride will undergo a thorough inspection before returning to service; the Iron Shark is the pier’s 100-foot coaster with a beyond-vertical drop and 52 mph top speed.