Festivalgoers at a major music event found themselves in a heart-stopping situation after a popular amusement ride suddenly shut down, leaving several people stranded upside down in the air.
The incident happened early Thursday morning at Boardmasters, a surf and music festival held annually in Cornwall, England. According to video captured by attendees and a statement from the event’s organizers, the Apollo 13 ride suffered a brief power failure around 1 a.m.
Eyewitness video circulated on TikTok showing riders suspended high above the ground, unable to move for roughly 20 minutes.
One TikTok user who filmed the scene called it “mad,” while another joked about the wind potentially shifting the ride mid-suspension.
General view of the main stage area at the Boardmasters Festival at Watergate Bay on August 9, 2025, in Newquay, England. (Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images)
“At no point were guests in any danger,” the statement continued. “The ride has since undergone a full safety check and resumed normal operation.”
The Apollo 13 ride launched in 2024, and its operators regularly post updates and behind-the-scenes maintenance work on its official Facebook page. A post from April outlined the rigorous checks performed before each event, including gear inspections, lighting fixes and greasing of pivot points.
The four-day festival is set to conclude on Sunday, August 10.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
