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All 16 people who became trapped on a ride at SeaWorld were freed after an hourslong rescue operation Monday night, according to KTLA sister station KSWB in San Diego. Six to seven gondolas — some of them suspended above water — stopped functioning after a big gust of wind tripped a circuit breaker on Bayside Skyride around 7:22 p.m., San Diego police told the station. Nearly two hours into the rescue operation, only one person had been rescued, firefighters said. But by 10 p.m., eight people had been freed, among them four adults and four juvenile. Half an hour later, only two people were still awaiting rescue, and all 16 were safely on the ground shortly after 11 p.m., officials said. The park visitors were lowered by harnesses and taken by lifeguard boats to a dock area to be medically evaluated, the fire department said. It was 49 degrees at the theme park around 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The gondolas had blankets on board, according to a statement from SeaWorld. “Once our guests are cared for, we will conduct a thorough inspection of the ride prior to re-opening,” the statement said. KTLA’s Nouran Salahieh and Erika Martin contributed to this report.

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