Jul 10, 2008 7:19 am US/Eastern
Dozens Stranded For Hours Above Bronx Zoo Lions
BRONX (CBS) ―
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More than three-dozen people were stranded high above the Bronx Zoo for several hours on July 9 after the facility's "Skyfari" broke down.
CBS
It was a high wire act that was high drama over the world's most famous zoo. Now 37 New Yorkers have something to remember forever about their trip to the Bronx Zoo.
Imagine spending five hours dangling in the air over wild animals in the world's most famous zoo. Thirty-seven people, including seven children in 14 cars became trapped in cages of their own last night at the Bronz Zoo.
The zoo snafu started around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, right after powerful thunderstorms struck the area. The sightseeing cable cars, part of the Skyfari above the zoo came to a halt, suspending the passengers in mid-air 100 feet over the baboon habitat and part of the African plains exhibit where lions and gazelles roam.
CBS 2's Joe Bierman was over the scene in Chopper 2 HD, as NYPD officers climbed on a support tower to figure out what to do and how to get the people out of the gondolas.
Using cranes, rescuers perched above the cars freed some of the passengers about two and a half hours after the cable cars had stopped.
"They used a crane that had been brought here from long island city to bring the three individuals down in the rescue," said NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly.
The police commissioner said stormy weather might have contributed to the mishap.
One of those rescued was Olga Perez of New City who spent much of her time trying to calm down her terrified 9-year-old.
"We were trying to calm ourselves. I knew deep in my heart, I knew it was going to take a little time. It wasn't going to be a matter of minutes," she said.
The Skyfari offers visitors a bird's-eye view of the celebrated zoo and its surroundings. Each of its gondolas can hold up to four people.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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