Hundreds stranded on the London Eye for THREE HOURS in ‘freezing’ pods after technical glitch brings it to a juddering halt 

  • Eye, with an 800 capacity, came to a 'screeching' halt at 7.21pm Saturday
  • One passenger said it was freezing because air conditioning stayed on
  • Comfort packs had foil blankets but not enough for up to 20 passengers
  • Another complained there was no food and passengers became 'anxious' 

By James Dunn For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Hundreds were left stranded on the London Eye in 'freezing' pods suspended in the air for hours after it broke down on Saturday night. 

The attraction came to a juddering halt at 7.21pm on Saturday, leaving some stuck 400ft in the air as engineers tried to fix it, with ambulances waiting on the ground.  

A trip usually takes just 30 minutes but it wasn't until 10.40pm that everyone had disembarked from the 32-pod wheel, which can hold up to 800 passengers.

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Hundreds were left stranded on the London Eye in 'freezing' pods suspended in the air for hours after it broke down on Saturday night

Hundreds were left stranded on the London Eye in 'freezing' pods suspended in the air for hours after it broke down on Saturday night

The attraction came to a 'screeching' halt at 7.21pm on Saturday, leaving some stuck 400ft in the air as engineers tried to fix it, with ambulances waiting on the ground (pictured)

The attraction came to a 'screeching' halt at 7.21pm on Saturday, leaving some stuck 400ft in the air as engineers tried to fix it, with ambulances waiting on the ground (pictured)

While some were pictured wrapped up in foil blankets, passengers complained that the emergency packs didn't have enough for all 28 passengers that can fit in each.

Glenn Fidock, 45, who was on there with his wife and two children, told The Mirror: 'People were crying and it was freezing cold because they couldn't turn off the air conditioning.

'It was making all sorts of noises, really screeching before stopping. Nobody knew what was going on.' 

One passenger told the Evening Standard newspaper he was in a capsule at the top of the ferris wheel when it came to a stop.

A trip usually takes just 30 minutes but it wasn't until 10.40pm that everyone had disembarked from the 32-pod wheel, which can hold up to 800 passengers

A trip usually takes just 30 minutes but it wasn't until 10.40pm that everyone had disembarked from the 32-pod wheel, which can hold up to 800 passengers

While some were pictured wrapped up in foil blankets, passengers complained that the emergency packs didn't have enough for all 20 passengers that can fit in each

While some were pictured wrapped up in foil blankets, passengers complained that the emergency packs didn't have enough for all 20 passengers that can fit in each

'At first everyone was laughing about it but as time went on people started to become anxious,' Adil Raja was quoted by the Standard as saying.

People were crying and it was freezing cold 
Glenn Fidock

'There was 22 people in our pod but only five or six emergency blankets, bottles of water and glucose tablets. I was furious we had no food and it was very cold. I was at the top for three hours,' he added.

The company said visitors were not at risk and they would receive a refund. It reopened on Sunday an hour later than usual.

A spokesman for the company said: 'The London Eye was temporarily stopped to investigate a technical issue at 7:21 pm. Our technical team were immediately on scene to assess the problem and assist in exiting guests from the London Eye.

The ferris wheel stands at 440 feet (135 metres) tall and has 32 capsules, each carrying up to 28 passengers

The ferris wheel stands at 440 feet (135 metres) tall and has 32 capsules, each carrying up to 28 passengers

'All guests were safely disembarked by 10:40 pm and attended to by London Eye staff.' 

London Fire Brigade said they sent two engines to the scene, one with an aerial ladder, but it was not used.

BAGS, TAPE... COMMODES: WHAT'S INSIDE THE LONDON EYE EMERGENCY KITS

· Foil jackets – for shock or to cover those needing to use the commode

· Commodes

· Water for guests

· Cups for water

· First aid kit

· Glucose tablets

· Wet wipes

· Sick bags

· Sticky tape

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Ambulances were also waiting on the ground, but no-one required treatment, London Ambulance Service said. 

The attraction opened to the public on March 9, 2000, and swiftly became one of London's most recognisable landmarks.

Built on the banks of the River Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament, the ferris wheel stands at 440 feet (135 metres) tall and has 32 capsules, each carrying up to 28 passengers.

It was designed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, who were also behind the i360 moving observation tower which opened in August with views over Brighton, the southern English seaside resort.

The i360 was brought to a standstill for around two hours in September, reportedly after the passengers rushed across the observation pod towards the bar.

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