Passengers on a ride were stuck upside down for nearly 30 minutes on Saturday evening due to mechanical problems.
According to management at Canada’s Wonderland, a suburb of Toronto, there were no injuries. However, two people reported chest pain and were examined by Park Clinic staff before being discharged without further medical treatment.
A video shared on social media Saturday showed people responding to calls for help from passengers stuck on the Lumberjack ride.
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In a statement to CBC, Canada’s Wonderland management confirmed that the Lumberjack became stuck upside down around 10:40 p.m. and had passengers on board. The passengers were able to return to land at 11:05 p.m.
Among those trapped were 11-year-old Spencer Parkhouse and his 15-year-old sister Mackenzie Parkhouse.
When the ride first stopped, they assumed it was part of the experience. Then, as the ambulance crew gathered below them, they realized something was wrong.
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Spencer Parkhouse, left, and Mackenzie Parkhouse, right.
Photo: Radio-Canada / CBC
[C’était] like, ‘When will we go down? Are we ever going to go down?'” Spencer told CBC News.
It was his first opportunity to go on a big ride at the amusement park. The experience traumatized him, he said.
He adds that everyone panicked and someone vomited while hanging upside down. However, when he thought he could finally get out, the journey began. The journey had yet to end. So the ride continued and we all said, “No, please, I don’t want to get stuck again.”
Mackenzie said that after the ride exited, staff checked passengers for injuries and asked if anyone had fainted or vomited.
This experience had a profound impact on her. All I’m thinking is, next time I go to Canada’s Wonderland, will I go on these big rides? Because now I’m afraid to go, she said.
The passengers were able to disembark safely and were examined by first aid personnel, Canada’s Wonderland’s news release said. The safety of our customers is always our top priority.