Thirty-two individuals were rescued from the Skyfari gondola ride at Mendon's Southwick Zoo after a mechanical issue halted the ride. Emergency personnel and zoo staff worked to evacuate the riders, with five requiring assistance from firefighters due to their difficult-to-access positions. No injuries were reported during the incident. The mechanical failure stemmed from a malfunctioning emergency shutoff valve, and the ride will undergo a full inspection to identify the cause. The zoo has been implementing strict safety protocols following a previous breakdown in 2022.
Emergency personnel arrived on scene after receiving calls around 3 p.m. from people stuck on the ride, which had a mechanical issue preventing it from moving.
Firefighters, utilizing a ladder truck, evacuated five occupants from two chairs located in difficult-to-access areas due to animal enclosures.
The malfunction was due to an issue with the ride's emergency shutoff valve, causing the ride to slow down and then halt.
Since the 2022 breakdown, the zoo has maintained strict safety protocols, including mechanical and weather checks multiple times per day.
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