SkyScreamer rescue successful.
Firefighters successfully rescue four stranded riders, including children, from Six Flags SkyScreamer in St. Louis.
Key Points
Crews said the SkyScreamer ride broke down between about 5:30 and 5:45 p.m., with the stop occurring shortly after 5:30 p.m. rather than earlier in the evening.
Responders noted the ride is capable of reaching 236 feet at full height, meaning the riders were stranded well below the attraction’s maximum but still near its upper operating range (around 120 feet).
Eureka Fire Protection District was identified as the primary agency for the high-angle rescue, with rope-rescue teams from multiple departments setting up on scene.
A first responder was heard over radios saying the rescue plan would prioritize passengers: “We’re going for the kids first.”
Fire officials told First Alert 4 that although the riders were safe and not at risk of falling, it was still uncertain at the time how long the rescue would take.
Four members of a family — two adults and two teenagers — were stranded 120 to 130 feet above the ground on the SkyScreamer swing ride at Six Flags St. Louis on Thursday evening after the attraction stopped mid-cycle. The breakdown began between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m., and the last rider was not safely back on the ground until around 8:30 p.m. — a roughly three-hour ordeal NY Post Yahoo News.
When the park's own system to manually lower the ride failed, Six Flags called in outside help. Three regional fire departments launched a high-angle rope rescue — working against an approaching electrical storm — and brought all four riders down without injury Yahoo News.
Park's Crane and Manual System Both Failed
After the SkyScreamer stopped, Six Flags maintenance workers climbed the tower's interior ladder to reach the riders and attempted to manually lower the carriage. That system failed. The park then deployed a heavy crane it keeps on-site — but that crane also could not reach the riders at 120 feet, according to AOL News.
Six Flags spokeswoman Elizabeth Gotway said once the manual system failed, staff followed protocol and called the fire department immediately. She praised the family's composure, saying they were "absolutely amazing" and "so calm" throughout the incident Yahoo News.
Eureka Fire Led the High-Angle Rope Rescue
Eureka Fire Protection District was the lead agency on scene. Chief Scott Barthelmass said the on-site crane arrived within 19 minutes of the emergency call, which came in at around 6:16 p.m. Rope-rescue teams from Metro West Fire and Maplewood fire departments also responded. A first responder was heard over radio saying, "We're going for the kids first" Head Topics.
Rescuers used high-angle rope techniques to lower the riders one at a time. Chief Barthelmass said the crane's fast arrival was "really pivotal to this rescue, especially with that storm front coming in." Crews faced a tight window to finish before dangerous lightning reached the area NY Post.
SkyScreamer Can Reach 236 Feet — Riders Were Halfway Up
The SkyScreamer is a 236-foot swing tower made by the manufacturer Funtime. It opened at Six Flags St. Louis in May 2011. The ride spins riders outward as it climbs. On Thursday, it stopped at roughly 120 to 130 feet — well below its peak height, but still about 12 stories off the ground Yahoo News.
This was not the first time the ride stranded guests. It previously stopped during its 2021 season opening day, keeping riders suspended for about 30 minutes. Enthusiast forums have long flagged the Funtime model as "notoriously finicky," and Reddit users noted after this incident that escape options are limited if the ride stops mid-air Head Topics.
Ride Shut Down as Missouri Regulators Step In
Six Flags confirmed the SkyScreamer will stay closed indefinitely for a full inspection by engineers and state regulators. Under Missouri law, the ride cannot reopen until it passes a state-approved review and receives a new operating permit from the Missouri Division of Fire Safety AOL News.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the malfunction had not been made public as of the time of reporting. Local officials raised questions about why a private park's on-site equipment was unable to handle the rescue without three fire departments stepping in NY Post.
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