All 16 passengers trapped on suspended gondolas at SeaWorld for several hours Monday night have been rescued, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said.
The passengers waited in cars that had stopped mid-air after wind knocked out power to the Bayside Skyride, the department said.
A statement by SeaWorld said the Bayside Skyride attraction stopped after “an unusual gust of significant wind.” The National Weather Service said that SeaWorld was hit by a 20 mph gust out of the north-northwest at 6:30 p.m.
Sixteen passengers, including an infant, were in five cars, according to official and news reports.
Rescue crews were called in shortly after 8 p.m. when the attraction could not restore power to the ride.
“Their (SeaWorld’s) mechanics weren’t able to get the gondola going,” Fire-Rescue spokesman Jose Ysea said.
The people were likely uncomfortable due to the weather. At 8 p.m., the temperature was 48 and falling at SeaWorld. It will drop to 43, according to forecasts.
SeaWorld said there were blankets on the ride.
The rescues took place in stages, with the first two children rescued around 9:25 pm and the last two removed around 11 p.m.
A statement by SeaWorld said the Bayside Skyride attraction stopped after “an unusual gust of significant wind.”
The people were likely uncomfortable due to the weather. At 8 p.m., the temperature was 48 and falling at SeaWorld. It will drop to 43, according to forecasts.
SeaWorld said there were blankets on the ride.
“We are in contact with the guests via intercom, and they have been made aware of the evacuation procedures,” the SeaWorld statement said. “There are also blankets on board each gondola. Evacuations will be conducted in accordance with the highest safety standards. All the guests are currently safe while awaiting evacuation.”
Fire and lifeguard crews were on site, on the gondola towers and in boats in Mission Bay, long after the park closed at 7 p.m.
During the rescue, a team talked with trapped riders, getting information about the number of people aboard each of the stranded gondolas. They used harnesses and a pulley system to reach the riders.
SeaWorld said it will carefully inspect the ride before if can be operated again.
The ride opened in 1967.
Staff Writers Lori Weisberg and Gary Robbins contributed to this article.
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