In a terrifying ordeal, dozens of tourists and staff were left stranded nearly 200 feet above the ground after a major amusement ride malfunctioned at a seaside park in Brazil. The incident, which occurred on January 30, saw the Super Gyro Tower—a panoramic attraction that had only opened three months prior—suddenly halt its rotation, leaving passengers suspended high above the city of Balneario Camboriu.
Panic and Prolonged Rescue Efforts
According to eyewitness accounts, the ride jolted to an abrupt stop before slowly descending and then freezing in place. Attorney Andre de Oliveira Couto, who was on the ride with his family, described the harrowing experience, noting that passengers were left waiting for over two hours with limited information as rescue teams scrambled to organise an evacuation.
Video footage from the scene shows rescue personnel securing ropes and safety gear to lower individuals one by one down the side of the structure using the tower's maintenance access. Initially, around 40 people, including tourists and workers, began descending by rope. Later, a ladder truck arrived to accelerate the removal of those still stranded, though the process remained slow and methodical due to the height and safety concerns.
Safety Systems and Park Response
Park employees later informed passengers that the ride's safety lock had been automatically triggered following a power outage, which caused the malfunction. Parque Unipraias, the operator of the attraction, confirmed that all passengers were evacuated through the emergency exit with support from trained safety teams. They also stated that the Super Gyro Tower would undergo thorough maintenance before reopening, though no specific timeline was provided.
The Super Gyro Tower, which can carry up to 50 people per ride and operates around 300 trips daily, offers panoramic views from nearly 300 metres above sea level. Its recent opening had been met with much fanfare, making this incident particularly alarming for both visitors and the local tourism industry.
Broader Context of Ride Safety Incidents
This event is not isolated in the world of amusement park attractions. For instance, in May of last year, rescuers took twice as long to reach people stuck on the Star Tower at Casey's Rides in America. Similarly, in 2023, 25 individuals had to be rescued after the Super Trooper ride became suspended in the air at Skegness Pleasure Beach fairground in the UK.
Historical data reveals even more prolonged incidents, such as in 2017 when 30 riders were trapped around 70 feet in the air for five hours at the historic Hull Fair, requiring blankets to stay warm. More recently, two people suffered critical injuries after a funfair ride collapsed at the Lambeth Country Show in south London last summer, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the industry.
While it is not officially known what the longest time people have been stuck on a malfunctioning ride is, this incident in Brazil underscores the critical importance of robust safety protocols and emergency preparedness at amusement parks worldwide. Authorities are likely to review regulations and inspection processes to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
