In a dramatic incident at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, 20 thrill-seekers found themselves stuck on the Sol Spin ride for an hour on November 18. This ride, known for spinning with vigor and at great height, joltingly stopped mid-circle and left its riders suspended six stories in the air.
The Sol Spin ride, which features six independently spinning arms, suddenly halted around 2 p.m., causing immediate concern among park guests and staff. Immediately, the guests and park staff raised alerts. During this competitive thinking process, riders were hanging at varied angles when the rescue operation started. A clip of the scene shows guests swinging their arms and legs, trying to keep cool while waiting for the rescuers.
Rescue crews, including members from the Orange County Fire Authority, responded quickly to the scene. Two female riders were in fact taken to the hospital as a precaution, while all other riders were released on the scene. Video of the rescue also shows the use of a heavy-duty crane to bring the stranded riders back down on the ground in safety. The whole operation took about little over an hour; all passengers were evacuated safely by 4:30 p.m.
The incident was blamed upon a technical failure, but it has not been specified exactly what the failure consisted of. The design of the ride, allowing for different orientations during operation, complicated the rescue effort further. The ride was manually accessed by park employees to secure the passengers and bring it down.
Those who were watching appeared concerned, yet relieved, too, as the riders were safely returned to the ground. Some of the riders limped while getting off the ride, readjusting to the solid ground after their harrowing experience.
Operating since 2017, Sol Spin has been a favorite among carousers as it gives them a very adrenaline-packed ride with its significantly fast and high spinning and elevation. This incident brings into view questions about the safety and maintenance of rides in amusement parks.
While amusement parks are a place of thrilling rides, incidents such as this integrate awareness of the importance of safety protocols and measures put in rigorous exercises regularly. In spite of such a scare, officials at Knott’s Berry Farm emphasized that measures concerning safety were promptly done to handle the situation, ensuring all guests’ safety.
