A MECHANICAL fault left 13 terrified kids stuck on the top of a fairground ride last night (Friday) in Benidorm.
The 'Alcatraz', part of the temporary fairground set up for the Costa Blanca capital's annual patron saint fiestas, has been closed off pending investigations, but organisers believe a technical problem had blocked it in mid-air, about four metres (13 feet) up.
Firefighters had to rescue the children and teenagers one by one from the giant cage they were trapped in, and help them down a huge ladder.
They started at around 19.30 and took up to an hour and a half to get everyone back on terra firma.
But the children were very brave, emergency services and parents said – all of them remained calm and nobody panicked or became hysterical – and nobody was injured.
An engineer from Benidorm council was due to inspect the Alcatraz today to find out whether it could be safely opened for this evening or, in the event of any doubt, seal it off.
The fiestas, Benidorm's largest, continue until Wednesday this coming week, but the fairground will be open until the Sunday immediately after.
