Loose scarf traps riders on ‘tallest, longest and fastest’ roller coaster in Australia
Riders were stuck for hours on Australia’s “tallest, longest and fastest” roller coaster after a loose scarf got caught on a wheel, park officials said.
The DC Rivals HyperCoaster at Warner Bros. Movie World in Gold Coast was stopped on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 5, theme park officials said in a statement.
A loose scarf “had become entangled around the train wheel” so operators stopped the ride as it went up a hill.
Other park visitors filmed the stopped ride. Videos shared with McClatchy News by Instagram users @2j0.n and @deahotcakes show the riders stuck near the top of the roller coaster. Rescuers are seen moving along the track behind the stopped ride.
Video footage from Australia’s 9News shows the stopped roller coaster from several different angles. The train appears to be stopped near the ride’s iconic Joker face.
The DC Rivals HyperCoaster is “tallest, longest and fastest HyperCoaster in the Southern Hemisphere,” according to the park. The track reaches speeds of about 71 miles per hour and includes a “menacing 89 degree drop as (riders) descend from the lair of the iconic Joker head.”
Rescuers helped passengers exit the train and walk down the ride’s built-in stairs, the park said. “Due to the height of the lift hill,” passengers were given harnesses.
Park officials said no one was injured.
The Australian and 7News reported that the ride was stopped for about three hours while passengers were evacuated.
“The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest priority and the ride will be operational following the completion of the removal of the loose item,” the park said.
Warner Bros. Movie World is in Queensland and about 520 miles northeast of Sydney.
This story was originally published January 5, 2024 at 6:53 AM with the headline "Loose scarf traps riders on ‘tallest, longest and fastest’ roller coaster in Australia."
