Eight students from two Houston Independent School District charter schools were stranded atop the Iron Shark rollercoaster at Pleasure Pier in Galveston, Texas, on May 28 after the ride malfunctioned during its initial ascent [1, 2]. The rollercoaster, which stands 100 feet tall and extends over the Gulf of Mexico on a pier, came to an emergency stop with the students aboard around 5:35 p.m. [1, 2].
Firefighters responded promptly and used a tall ladder truck and safety harnesses to rescue the students one by one over the course of approximately three to four hours [1, 2]. Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela Jr. said the students were "shaken up from climbing that ladder down" and exposure to the hot sun, but "everyone seems to be doing pretty good" after being checked for dehydration [1].
The stranded riders included students from the Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and High School, both charter schools within the Houston Independent School District [1, 2]. The Palisade Pier’s Chief Operating Officer, Terry Turney, explained that the ride’s emergency stop was triggered by a malfunction but operated as designed to protect passenger safety. He said, "Our focus immediately shifted to the safety of our guests. Therefore, we contacted the Fire Department to assist, ensuring all guests were safely removed from the ride" [1]. Pleasure Pier has said the Iron Shark will be thoroughly inspected before it reopens to the public [1, 2].
The Galveston Police also responded to the incident, which began around 5:35 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 28 [2]. The rescue and evacuation concluded several hours later without injury.
The Iron Shark rollercoaster is a prominent attraction on Pleasure Pier, known for its vertical lift hill and scenic views of the Gulf of Mexico. The next formal update on ride safety and reopening plans is expected after the full inspection and maintenance checks are complete [1, 2].
