Saudi Father climbs stalled ride to rescue children amid power outage

Dubai: A young Saudi father intervened at Abha International Airport to rescue his children from an amusement ride that abruptly stopped following a sudden power outage.

The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, shows the man climbing onto the stalled ride to reach his children, who were left suspended mid-play when the electricity failed. The abrupt halt and sudden darkness appeared to cause distress among those on the ride, prompting the father’s rapid response.

Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported. The relevant agencies are investigating the cause of the outage and are expected to announce preventive measures to avoid similar incidents.

The incident comes less than two weeks after a separate and more serious accident in Taif, where at least 23 people were injured, three critically, when an amusement park ride collapsed in the Al Hada district, a popular mountain resort city in western Saudi Arabia.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as the structure gave way mid-operation, sending riders crashing to the ground. Emergency responders, including civil defense teams and Saudi Red Crescent paramedics, secured the site and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.

Authorities ordered the immediate closure of the Taif amusement park while investigators from municipal authorities, the General Entertainment Authority, and security services determine the cause and assess compliance with safety regulations.