Marble Falls Fire Rescue pulls two from hanging Ferris wheel basket at Mayfest
A Marble Falls Fire Rescue crew pulls a young girl and an adult from a damaged Ferris wheel basket on May 11 during Mayfest in Johnson Park. Fire officials said the basket became hung up and almost flipped all the way over with the two occupants inside. Two other baskets also became jammed. Fire fighters pulled the girl and the adult from the basket. Courtesy photo by Al Williams
DANIEL CLIFTON-PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — A grandfather and his granddaughter had a fright May 11 at Mayfest when the Ferris wheel basket in which they were riding became hung up and left them almost dangling upside down until Marble Falls Fire Rescue crews arrived and rescued them.
“There were no injuries, just scared,” said Marble Falls Fire Rescue Capt. Coy Guenter.
Guenter said one of the Ferris wheel baskets apparently hung up on something about 2:30 p.m. during the MayFest carnival. Several other baskets also became wedged during the ride.
But it was the first basket with the young girl and her grandfather that was in the most precarious position.
“They were almost hanging upside down,” Guenter said.
The fire crews used the ladder truck to retrieve the two people. Once in the bucket, Guenter said the firefighters lowered the girl and man to the ground.
“The two other baskets were occupied, but they were not in danger, so we started the Ferris wheel and brought them on around and down,” Guenter said.
Following the problem, Guenter informed the carnival operators to shut down the Ferris wheel.
daniel@thepicayune.com
