‘Drop tower’ ride leaves two people stranded 50 metres high for four hours

Hirakata, Osaka: Two people were left stranded 50 metres high for four hours on Friday after a drop tower amusement ride stopped at an Osaka Prefecture amusement park.

Passengers are seen stranded in a drop tower gondola at Hirakata Park in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, at 10.20pm on Friday. Credit: Photo from Japan News-Yomiuri

The two passengers – a man and a woman – were rescued about 11pm, according to Hirakata Park officials. Though uninjured, the rescued individuals complained of feeling unwell and were taken to hospital.

According to the park, the drop tower has three four-seat gondolas. Normally, the brakes are briefly applied to the gondolas as they approach the top of the tower, before being released. The gondolas then fall freely from about 50 metres high.

However, about 7pm, the brakes failed to release on all three gondolas. Park staff on the ground managed to release the brakes on two of the gondolas and lower them to the ground but were unable to free the third one.