Los Angeles man breaks Ferris wheel record

LOS ANGELES, June 4 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles man set a Guinness World Record for longest ride on a Ferris wheel by staying onboard for 25 consecutive hours.

Gus Martinez, a detective who has been with the Los Angeles Police Department since 1994, climbed aboard the 130-foot-tall Pacific Wheel at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica pier at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and stayed on until 8:30 a.m. Friday, defeating the previous record of 24 hours, 30 minutes, which was set last year in Ireland, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, reported Monday.

Martinez said his record raised funds and awareness for the Special Olympics of Southern California. He said his son, James, who has Down's syndrome, has won more than 30 gold medals in the competition's swimming events.

Martinez was not allowed to sleep during his 25-hour ride and he was allowed 5-minute bathroom breaks each hour.