Amusement Ride Malfunction Leaves Festivalgoers Stranded Upside Down at Boardmasters Festival
Festivalgoers at the Boardmasters music and surf event in Cornwall, England, were left stranded upside down for 20 minutes after the Apollo 13 ride malfunctioned. The incident, which occurred early Thursday at the festival, was captured on video and shared across social media platforms, sparking a wave of reactions from attendees and online users.
The Apollo 13 ride, named after NASA’s ill-fated 1970 space mission, is a popular attraction at the annual four-day event. According to video footage posted on TikTok, the ride suddenly experienced a brief power failure around 1 a.m., leaving riders suspended high above the ground. The video showed several people hanging upside down, unable to move for approximately 20 minutes, while others on the ground attempted to reassure those above them.
One of the TikTok videos, which quickly gained traction, captured the moment as “mad,” with one user joking about the wind potentially shifting the ride mid-suspension. Others commented on the freezing temperatures they felt during the incident, highlighting the unusual and unexpected nature of the event.
Boardmasters organizers confirmed that the ride had automatically halted as a safety precaution and that all guests were safely evacuated within 20 minutes. The company issued a statement to Fox News Digital, reiterating that the incident was managed efficiently with a clear focus on the safety of attendees. “At no point were guests in any danger,” the statement emphasized.
The ride, which travels to festivals and fairs across the UK, has since undergone a full safety check and resumed normal operation. The festival, which concludes on August 10, has already announced that there will be no disruptions to the schedule, with other attractions and performances continuing as planned.
While the incident raised concerns about the safety of large-scale amusement rides, organizers noted that all safety protocols were followed and that the ride has a history of undergoing regular maintenance checks. A recent post on the ride’s official Facebook page outlined the rigorous checks performed prior to the event, including gear inspections, lighting fixes, and greasing of pivot points.
The Boardmasters festival, which has drawn thousands of attendees from across the UK and beyond, remains a major event in the summer music and surf calendar. The incident, though alarming, did not result in any injuries, and organizers have expressed their commitment to ensuring the safety of all participants.
As the festival winds down on August 10, the experience of being momentarily stuck upside down will undoubtedly become a memorable part of the week for many attendees. While such incidents are rare, they serve as a reminder of the importance of ongoing safety assessments and maintenance in the amusement industry, particularly for rides that operate in high-traffic environments like music festivals.