You're 100 m (330 ft) up in the air,
moving at 130 km/h (81 mph).
Your heart is pounding
as you scream your lungs out.
Suddenly, a sharp hit to your chest.
The coaster has stopped completely.
Now you're hanging upside down,
but how long can you hold on like this?
Modern rides are not controlled
by a single guy pulling a lever anymore.
Now they work
with a combination of sensors,
math calculations
and computer programming.
And just like any computer,
it can malfunction and reboot.
When the system detects
a potential hazard,
it can slow down the cars,
or sometimes,
stop them completely.
Unfortunately,
this can happen at any time,
even on the most dangerous part
of the ride.
See if the amusement park
has had any issues with its roller coasters
in the past.
Read reviews online
and find out in anyone has gotten stuck
on the rides you want to try out.
Don't be the first person in line
to ride a particular coaster that day.
Make sure it's had time to be tested
and warmed up.
Some parks have systems to detect
lightning at various distances.
When lightning hits close to a park,
the system shuts down
some of the rides automatically
since coasters can act as lightning rods.
In May 2022,
a group of people
got stuck on the Behemoth
at Canada’s Wonderland.
They had just started moving
when a major storm caused
a power outage at the park,
stopping the cars automatically.
Cell phone footage
shows the riders screaming as heavy rain
propelled by strong winds pelted them.
They were rescued after 30 minutes
by park staff.
No one was injured.
If you get stuck on a ride,
try to remain calm
by regulating your breathing.
Don't scream
and ask others to remain silent,
as there will likely be announcements
from ride operators.
The staff may give you instructions
on how to leave the coaster wagon
and reach stairs on the side of the ride.
If they are not certain that it is safe,
they may need to call firefighters.
The rescue team
might give you harnesses to avoid risks
like tripping or slipping.
If your coaster is stuck
on a particularly hot day,
heatstroke can be avoided
by drinking water
and applying sunscreen before getting
in line as a precautionary measure.
You might get a seatbelt burn
since any metal parts on the belt
will heat up very quickly in direct sunlight.
Ensure you have clothes
between your skin and the harnesses
and buckles.
If you get stuck hanging upside down,
your lungs will feel the pressure
of other organs
starting to shift downward.
This will reduce the amount of oxygen
you can get when you inhale.
Excess blood will be forced to your brain,
increasing the risk
of ruptured blood vessels
and potentially fatal hemorrhaging.
Try to bend upward every few minutes
so you can stabilize
your body's blood circulation.
In 1997,
riders on a coaster in Belgium
were stranded upside down
in the middle of a loop
for about 90 minutes.
Firefighters were able to rescue everyone
with only minor injuries reported.
If your ride stops moving,
whatever you do,
don't touch your seatbelt
or move too much.
Help should be on its way.
The nightmare is over.
You're back on the ground
and the park doctor says
you're good to go.
You probably think
you have a great story to tell, right?
But imagine you were one of the few
who have fallen from a roller coaster.
How did they survive?
Find out right here.