Multiple people who got stuck hanging upside down on an amusement park ride have spoken up about the experience, with some saying that they thought they might die. Though the ride is called AtmosFEAR, the 28 people who got stuck on the ride for more than 20 minutes had no idea just how terrifying the experience would be.
On Friday, June 14, 2024, emergency crews in Oregon rescued the 28 people that were dangling upside down on the ride at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon. One of them, high school student Hazen Hathorn, told KPTV that he "heard screaming, crying, pleas for help" while stuck on the ride.
At the same time, some of the people around him were silent, he told the outlet.
"I didn’t even know what to say," he said. "These could be my last moments with these people. Some of my friends weren’t saying anything, some of them were saying some of their secrets, it was really scary."
He also told the outlet that he "thought it very well might be the end of my life." He wasn't the only person on the ride who thought this.
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Jordan Harding, 18, was on the ride with her boyfriend and "thought we were going to die there," she told People.
"I remember thinking that I was going to die like that and miss out on so many major things that I had hoped to experience," she said to the outlet.
Evie Yannotta, 14, told NewsNation that the people who were stuck on the ride were only getting information from megaphone announcements. "I had no idea what was going on," she told the outlet. "A lot of people were screaming their heads off."
Both Yannotta and Hazen said that in addition to experiencing some physical discomfort, the experience has also impacted them mentally. Hazen told KPTV that when he tries to sleep, he "[feels] upside down again."
AtmosFEAR is currently closed, according to the amusement park's website. Oaks Park also released a statement about the incident.
The statement noted that everyone who was stuck on the ride was assessed by Portland Fire and Rescue and American Medical Response. One person was taken to the hospital as a precaution due to a pre-existing medical condition.
The ride has been in operation since 2021 and had not experienced any issues like this before, according to the statement. The park is working with the manufacturer and state inspectors to determine what caused the ride to stop.
Harding told People that she has no desire to go back to the amusement park due to the "emotional distress" the experience caused.
"I do feel lucky to be alive," she told the outlet. "When you're about to lose your life you gain a new outlook on life allowing you to enjoy every day a little more."
