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06
Jul
Firefighters called to rescue people trapped on Harrogate Big Wheel
Firefighters were called to help rescue a group of people trapped in a pod after the Harrogate Big Wheel broke down this afternoon (July 6).
Both crews from Harrogate were summoned to the town centre at about 4.30pm when the 32-metre observation wheel stopped turning.
Firefighters and a member of the crew running the Big Wheel had to instigate a manual override of the system to activate the wheel and bring the people affected to safety.
Fortunately, only one pod was in use when the wheel stopped turning.
Firefighters and Big Wheel operators try to get the pod down safely.
Firefighters brought the aerial ladder platform to assist but the pod containing people was close to the ground when it stopped moving.
The incident concluded at about 5pm.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's incident report said:
Harrogate aerial ladder platform and its supporting appliance responded to three persons stuck approximately 15 feet from the ground in a car on the Big Wheel. Triple extension ladder used to bring 2 adults and 1 child to earth safely.
The wheel, run by WM Attractions on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, returned to the town this weekend.
It is due to operate daily until July 26. However, it was out of action following today's incident.
Last year, a Ferris wheel in Ripon had to close temporarily when a generator caught fire.
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