STUCK IN THE SKY
Mendon’s Southwick Zoo rescue: Guests trapped on Skyfari Sky Ride in 90-degree temperatures after airlift gets stuck
A RESCUE mission is underway after guests got stuck onboard a zoo aerial ride, leaving them swinging several feet in the air.
Emergency units responded to Southwick Zoo in Mendon, , after the wildlife park's Skyfari ride abruptly stopped functioning.
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Southwick zoo's Skyfari ride, which operates similar to a mountain chairlift for skiers and snowboarders, gives guests an aerial view of exhibits and animals across the property.
Video obtained by shows emergency crews using multiple cherry picker lifts to rescue people stuck on the chairlifts.
Two people were captured on video being rescued using a firetruck ladder, per the outlet.
Some guests were stuck above animal enclosures.
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Mendon fire officials said 19 people, 12 adults and seven children, were rescued from eight skylift cars.
Zoo staff and firefighters used construction lulls and a tower ladder to rescue the guests.
According to the zoo's website, guests onboard the ride "get a bird's eye view of the African Plains, Deer Forest, chimpanzees, alligators and more."
The Skyfari Sky Ride chair can seat up to two adults, two adults with one small child, or two children with one adult, the zoo's website states.
The incident occurred during the day's peak hours when temperatures in the region reached over 90 degrees.
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