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French revellers spend New Year's Eve trapped on fair ride | French revellers spend New Year's Eve trapped on fair ride |
(35 minutes later) | |
It's not the best way to spend New Year's Eve, but it's certainly an unforgettable one. | It's not the best way to spend New Year's Eve, but it's certainly an unforgettable one. |
Eight French people have been rescued by helicopter after becoming trapped for eight hours atop a fair ride. | Eight French people have been rescued by helicopter after becoming trapped for eight hours atop a fair ride. |
The revellers, one as young as 13, climbed aboard the 52-metre (171ft) BomberMaxxx in the Breton city of Rennes for a brief ride above the city. | The revellers, one as young as 13, climbed aboard the 52-metre (171ft) BomberMaxxx in the Breton city of Rennes for a brief ride above the city. |
But a new part broke on the attraction, and the firefighters' ladders were too short to rescue the trapped group. | But a new part broke on the attraction, and the firefighters' ladders were too short to rescue the trapped group. |
"We saw sparks, heard a big metal noise and feared the worst," one woman told AFP news agency. | "We saw sparks, heard a big metal noise and feared the worst," one woman told AFP news agency. |
The owner of the ride, Alexandre Thiel, said the broken part blocked it and while there was no danger to those on board, "the only problem was getting them down". | |
After several attempts to reach them from the ground, a helicopter arrived and one by one they were winched to safety. | After several attempts to reach them from the ground, a helicopter arrived and one by one they were winched to safety. |
The first was rescued just before midnight, with the last person reaching the ground at about 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT). | The first was rescued just before midnight, with the last person reaching the ground at about 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT). |
"I never thought I'd get out. It was very traumatic," 23-year-old Antoine said. "It was long, it was cold and it was frightening." | "I never thought I'd get out. It was very traumatic," 23-year-old Antoine said. "It was long, it was cold and it was frightening." |
"Next year, I'm staying at home with my champagne and biscuits," another man said. | "Next year, I'm staying at home with my champagne and biscuits," another man said. |
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