A carnival employee was in serious condition at a local hospital after plummeting more than 40 feet Sunday afternoon in an attempt to secure two teenage patrons in a ride.

The unnamed employee of the Gold Medal Shows at Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway was trying to secure the Roll-o-Plane's two passengers when he noticed the ride's door had not been properly closed, DeKalb Fire Department officials said.

The worker was trying to secure the door when the ride – a single, long, rotating arm with a passenger cabin at each end — suddenly started moving, officials said.

The man instinctively grabbed onto the door, still holding on as the ride spun around and lifted him high into the air. He soon lost his grip and fell to the ground. The extent of his injuries was unclear, but they were termed "serious" by Fire Department spokesman Eric Jackson.

The ride was shut down immediately, stranding the two teen passengers in the air for about 20 minutes until rescue personnel arrived and got them down safely. Both were unhurt.

Plaza Fiesta is a Hispanic-themed shopping mall at 4166 Buford Highway.