In a terrifying incident at Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon, dozens of riders found themselves trapped upside down for half an hour on Friday, June 18th. According to KGW8, the popular thrill ride, AtmosFEAR, malfunctioned at around 2:55 p.m., leaving 28 riders suspended with their legs facing the sky.

The park immediately activated its emergency procedures and contacted 911 for assistance. Portland Fire and Rescue responded swiftly and worked alongside park staff to resolve the situation. By 3:25 p.m., the ride was manually lowered, allowing all the passengers to be safely removed from the precarious position, confirmed Portland Fire and Rescue.

During the incident, one individual with a pre-existing medical condition was taken to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure, as stated by Oaks Park. The park management assured the public that the safety of the riders was their topmost concern.

Among those affected were Daniel Allen and Jordan Harding, two Portland teenagers celebrating their high school graduation at Oaks Park. Eager to experience the thrills, they joined the queue for AtmosFEAR, unaware of the terrifying ordeal awaiting them. "I was excited to go on," Allen expressed. "But when you get stuck up there, I don't think you're so excited anymore."

AtmosFEAR, a ride that opened in 2021, features a pendulum that swings from side to side, momentarily stopping upside down as part of the thrill. However, when the ride failed to resume after the inverted pause, panic ensued. "We were just freaking out," Harding recalled. "People were crying. They were just putting into the universe what they wanted to say for their last words."

The riders described the prolonged upside-down position as excruciatingly uncomfortable, with Harding even experiencing her legs falling asleep from the waist down. Despite not being religious, she admitted that she started to pray, uncertain if she would survive the traumatic experience.

In response to the incident, Oaks Park announced that AtmosFEAR would remain closed until further notice. The park management assured disappointed visitors that any guest whose visit was cut short that day would be offered a refund or an opportunity to reschedule their visit.

As investigations into the cause of the malfunction continue, Oaks Park is expected to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and reliability of their rides before reopening them to the public.