Emergency crews in Oregon successfully rescued 28 individuals who were stranded for approximately 30 minutes while hanging upside down on a ride at a century-old amusement park. The incident took place at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland on Friday, prompting a swift response from Portland Fire and Rescue.

According to a statement by Portland Fire and Rescue on social media platform X, firefighters collaborated with engineers from Oaks Park to manually lower the ride. They were also prepared to conduct a high-angle ropes rescue if necessary. Fortunately, all riders were safely evacuated and medically evaluated, with no reported injuries, except for one individual who was taken to the hospital for further assessment due to a pre-existing medical condition.

One of the riders, Daniel Allen, described the experience as "just crazy," mentioning discomfort in his bladder, nausea, and sore legs after the ordeal. Another rider, Jordan Harding, recounted the terrifying moments when people on the ride were praying, screaming, vomiting, and even passing out while awaiting rescue.

Eyewitness Lavina Waters shared that someone alerted park staff about the trapped riders. When the ride came to a halt, park employees immediately contacted 911, and emergency responders arrived approximately 25 minutes later. Park maintenance workers were able to reposition the ride minutes after the arrival of first responders.

Contrary to initial reports, the ride, called AtmosFEAR, had 28 riders on board, according to both Oaks Amusement Park and local news outlet KION. The attraction, which operates like a pendulum with the capability to swing riders upside down, had been in operation since 2021 without any prior incidents. Following the rescue, the ride has been closed indefinitely while the park works with the ride's manufacturer and state inspectors to determine the cause of the stoppage.

Jon Harrell, a spokesperson for Portland Fire and Rescue, noted that the emergency crew was well-acquainted with the attraction and had previously trained for extricating individuals from it. The park expressed gratitude to the first responders, staff members, and other park guests who promptly followed instructions to evacuate, allowing emergency responders to address the situation efficiently.

As the investigation continues, the focus will be on ensuring the safety of amusement park riders and preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future. Oaks Amusement Park pledged to cooperate fully with authorities to determine what caused the ride to malfunction.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of comprehensive safety protocols and regular inspections in amusement parks to ensure the well-being of guests.