3 months ago
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By Iona Cleave
August 1, 2025 — 8.55am
A theme park ride in Saudi Arabia snapped in midair, sending riders tumbling to the ground and injuring at least 23 people.
Footage captured the moment the 360 Big Pendulum ride at Green Mountain Park, in the south-western city of Ta’if, broke apart and swung violently towards the ground.
Three people were critically injured in the incident, state media reported on Thursday.
In the video, which has been widely shared online, more than two dozen people strapped into chairs on the outside of a circular carousel can be seen being swung back and forth.
Moments later, as the ride gains speed on the upward swing, a cracking sound can be heard as the central pole suddenly splits.
It recoils at high speed, causing the carousel to smash into the other end of the pendulum, striking some of the riders.
The 360 Big Pendulum ride at Green Mountain Park in Saudi Arabia snapped in midair.Credit: X
Horrified screams can be heard as the platform comes crashing down. The safety harnesses largely appear to remain intact, however, and the riders appear to land still in their seats.
Local authorities in the Al-Hada area of Ta’if, near the city of Jeddah, have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the malfunction.
Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, the region’s governor, ordered the immediate closure of the resort, according to Arab News.
A 13-year-old boy was riding a similar Pendulum 360 ride in Batu, Indonesia, in April when he slipped from his seat and fell to the ground. He suffered multiple fractures but survived.
Footage shows the ride gaining speed on the upward swing then a cracking sound can be heard as it splits.Credit: X
The same month, a 24-year-old woman was killed after she fell from a chair swing ride at a fairground in Delhi. According to reports, the ride’s central structure broke as it reached the top of the swing and the victim was thrown into the air.
The Telegraph, London
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