Eight students from Houston were safely rescued after spending four hours stranded on the Iron Shark roller coaster at Texas’ Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. The situation began in the afternoon of May 28, when the coaster suffered a malfunction and came to a halt.
According to ABC 7, the trouble began at 5:21 PM when the ride stopped during its initial ascent. The Iron Shark is known for its impressive 100-foot vertical lift hill, and being stuck that high up is certainly not what these students expected when they headed to the pier for their STEM field trip.
The Houston Independent School District confirmed that the riders were students from Energized for STEM Academy Middle School and STEM Academy High School. The Galveston Fire Department received the call at 5:37 PM and arrived at the scene with their Tower 1 engine. Firefighters then released one student at a time before escorting them down the ladder. The final person was safely back on firm ground shortly after 9:00 PM.
The rescue seemed to have had a few hurdles, too
Per PEOPLE, Chief Mike Varela Jr. of the Galveston Fire Department provided updates on the rescue effort. He noted that his “firefighters were ready today,” and he went on to describe them as “top notch” during an interview with KHOU.
The rescue was not as simple as it sounds, though, as the fire department encountered their own equipment challenges. Chief Varela Jr. explained that the manlift typically used for such evacuations experienced “mechanical issues,” which is why the team had to pivot to the Tower 1 engine to reach the stranded riders.
Speaking of the stranded kids, Chief Varela Jr. told reporters: “Of course they were shaken up from climbing that ladder down, being in that hot sun. They have been checked for dehydration and everyone seems to be doing pretty good.”
“You could tell they were shaken up, visually, and then you could see a sense of joy as well once their feet hit the ground,” he noted. Firefighters had to work hard to keep the students calm, reassuring them that the safety gear being used was going to keep them secure throughout the descent.
Terry Turney, the COO of Pleasure Pier, told PEOPLE that “The ride experienced a malfunction at its initial ascent, however, as designed, it immediately stopped to keep everyone safe. Our focus immediately shifted to the safety of our 8 guests. Therefore, we contacted the Fire Department to assist, ensuring all guests were safely removed from the ride.”
Regarding the future of the attraction, Turney added: “A thorough inspection of the ride is currently underway. We can’t thank the fire department enough for their quick response and assistance.”
The amusement park was closed during the rescue operation, allowing the fire department to maneuver its large equipment onto the pier. The Iron Shark is a high-speed roller coaster, reaching speeds of 52 miles per hour, making adherence to safety protocols critical. The school district expressed its relief once the rescue concluded. In a statement provided to ABC 7, the district said it was “grateful that all students, staff, and chaperones are safe.” They also mentioned that school administration has been in direct contact with the families of every student who was on the trip.
The park is now prioritizing an inspection of the ride to ensure this kind of mishap doesn’t happen again. Whether it is as a volunteer fighting fires that threaten to engulf a neighborhood with explosions, or officially saving cats who just want to escape a vet visit, as Chief Varela put it, “firefighters [are] ready” any day.
Published: Jun 1, 2026 08:15 am