Two 13-year-old girls described a frightening incident on the Jersey Shore after the "Wipe Out" ride at Playland's Castaway Cove in Ocean City, New Jersey, malfunctioned, leaving them and other passengers suspended upside down for an estimated five to seven minutes.
Charlotte Hacker and Emilia Gordon were among more than a dozen people on the ride the day after the Fourth of July. The ride, which swings like a pendulum and spins its compartments, stopped abruptly, leaving everyone inverted.
"We were stuck upside down for five to seven minutes, and it doesn’t seem like that much to the people that were down watching us, but we were up there, and it felt like an hour," Hacker told Fox News Digital. Gordon added that the sensation of being unable to lift her head and the rush of blood made her fear she would pass out.
The friends were at the boardwalk to celebrate Gordon's upcoming 13th birthday. They chose the "Wipe Out" because it was a new attraction, having ridden other rides at the amusement park previously.
While suspended, the girls attempted to distract themselves by making small talk, but Gordon recalled worrying that the safety bars might open, causing them to fall. Family members on the ground expressed terror as they watched the ride remain stationary.
"My uncle was there too, because we were all with my cousins, so he was also freaking out," Hacker said.
Eventually, ride operators were able to restart the ride. However, to the passengers' dismay, the ride completed its cycle, and they were held for several more minutes before being allowed to disembark. It remains unclear what caused the malfunction, and whether any injuries were reported.
Despite the unsettling experience, Hacker noted that the ride did not close afterward, and some individuals continued to line up and ride it. "When we came off, people were literally clapping," Gordon said.
The amusement park offered ticket refunds to the girls, which they felt were insufficient compensation for the ordeal. "That ride is five tickets, so they just gave back our ticket but [Hacker] only got three back. I got five. But still, after all that, I feel like you expect more," Gordon stated.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Ocean City Fire Department, Ocean City Police Department, the ride's operator, and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for comment.IMAGE3: Riders hang upside down after the Wipe Out ride at Playland's Castaway Cove malfunctioned on the Jersey Shore on July 5, 2026. IMAGE5: Riders hang upside down after the Wipe Out ride at Playland's Castaway Cove malfunctioned on the Jersey Shore on July 5, 2026. IMAGE6: Riders hang upside down after the Wipe Out ride at Playland's Castaway Cove malfunctioned on the Jersey Shore on July 5, 2026.