- Thirteen people were trapped inside the carriage of the Jurassix Skyline tower
- The popular tourist attraction in Weymouth malfunctioned before 4pm today
- Work to free the gondola failed so fire crews and the Coastguard were called in
A rescue operation is underway to airlift stranded visitors from a tower after a carriage malfunction left them stranded more than 100ft in the air.
Thirteen people trapped in the gondola of the Jurassic Skyline tower on Festival Pier, Weymouth are being winched to safety by a Coastguard helicopter.
The carriage malfunction before 4pm today, meaning those inside have been trapped for four hours.
Dramatic scenes from the popular tourist attraction show coastguard members descending down from the helicopter onto the carriage.
Thirteen people trapped in the gondola of the Jurassic Skyline tower on Festival Pier, Weymouth are being winched to safety by a Coastguard helicopter
Rescue workers can be seen inside the carriage where 13 people who were left trapped inside are being airlifted to safety by the Coastguard helicopter
The carriage malfunction before 4pm today, meaning those inside have been trapped for four hours
Fire crews were called in after efforts by engineers to free the stuck gondola failed
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene at 4.12pm this afternoon after efforts by engineers to free the stuck gondola had failed.
A spokesman said: ‘Technical rescue crews from Weymouth and Poole, plus the aerial ladder platform from Westbourne and a supporting crew from Dorchester, attended the scene and firefighters ascended the tower to provide support and reassurance to the 11 members of the public and two staff within the gondola.
‘Working with colleagues from Dorset Police, the local authority, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the attraction’s operators, the Service explored a number of rescue options, but most were discounted on the grounds of safety due to the inclement weather.’