Photo: Gus Martinez Breaks Ferris Wheel-Riding Record to Raise Money For Special Olympics
A detective with the Los Angeles Police Department has set a Guinness World Record for the longest Ferris wheel ride.
After 25 hours on the 130-foot-tall Pacific Wheel at Santa Monica’s Pacific Park, detective Gus Martinez broke the previous record of 24 hours, 30 minutes, which had been set in Ireland in 2011.
Each hour, Martinez was permitted to take a 5 minute bathroom break. He was not allowed to sleep or leave the Ferris wheel for any other reason.
Martinez took the ride to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics of Southern California. His son James has Down’s syndrome but has not let it get in his way. James has won more than 30 gold medals in Special Olympics swimming events.
The proud father first stepped onto the Ferris wheel at 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning and officially stopped the clock when he got off at 8:30 a.m. Friday morning.
