Texas theme park riders left dangling 30m in air on tilt coaster

The two riders were stuck at a 90-degree angle when the Circuit Breaker ride jammed at COTALAND amusement park near Austin, Texas. Photo / Facebook

Two riders at a US theme park were left dangling 30 metres in the air for over half an hour when the rollercoaster they were on jammed unexpectedly.

The dramatic incident unfolded last week at the Circuit of Americas Cotaland amusement park near Austin, Texas, according to KXAN-TV.

Matthew Cantu, aged 24, and Nicholas Sanchez, 20, were riding the Circuit Breaker, a new attraction described as a “tilt coaster”.

The ride’s climax features a horizontal section of track that breaks away, tips riders forward 45 degrees, reconnects vertically, and then plunges them into a straight drop.

However, KXAN-TV reported the ride stopped on the first drop about 8.50pm, leaving Cantu and Sanchez at a 90-degree angle facing the ground.

“At that position, the only thing between the ground and you is the harness,” Cantu said.

“My mind just went to the darkest places, being up there that long. It can do a lot to a person.

“Once we got to that 90-degree angle and a sufficient amount of time had passed, we realised that something serious was wrong.”

The Independent reported the pair were uplifted from the ride and assessed by medics.

First responders from the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ACTEMS) confirmed via a statement to People that they were first alerted to the incident at 9.31pm.

“We arrived at 9.42 and cleared the scene at 10.11pm after evaluating one adult patient on the scene.

KXAN-TV reported Cantu felt light-headed and displayed “symptoms consistent with blood pooling”, and Sanchez experienced “numbness in his upper leg”.

“They refused medical transport and treatment at the scene,” ACTEMS said.

Cotaland said in a statement to CBS Austin, “a sensor triggered a ride delay”, that the incident was resolved, and the ride was able to continue without issue.

“As with all amusement attractions of this sort, delays occasionally occur,” the statement read.

“We regret the inconvenience and are glad that out of the 25,000 people that have ridden the coaster, only two have this badge of courage.”

The Circuit Breaker launched in preview mode in October and its official opening is set for next year, according to KVUE-TV.

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