DAVENPORT - A developmentally disabled man riding the Ferris wheel Tuesday at the Mississippi Valley Fair in Davenport slipped out of his car and dropped between the wheel's spokes before being rescued by six employees of Evans United Rides, which operates the ride.

Caleb Hill, 31, a slightly built man, was one of 120 clients of Davenport's Handicapped Development Center attending the first day of the fair called "Special Needs Day" at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. He was not seriously injured.

The dramatic incident was captured live by KWQC-TV6 in Davenport during its noon telecast, where the station was located to do a live report on the opening day of the fair.

Despite the incident, the Handicapped Development Center, or HDC, intends to continue its longtime practice of taking clients to the fair. "It's something many of our people enjoy," said Nancy Martel, senior vice president. "It's a high point of the year for them."

Hill and an unidentified HDC caregiver were at the top of the 50-foot wheel when the ride stopped to let on more passengers. At that point, Hill slid under the safety bar but was caught by his companion.

While the woman struggled to hold the 5-foot, 100-pound man, whose skin was made slippery with sunscreen, he slowly slipped from her grip and fell a few feet where he landed on the ride's spokes. He actually bounced off one set of spokes first before he landed on another a few feet further down.

As he clung to the metal bars several employees of Evans scaled the wheel and secured him.

The employees carried him to rescue workers on the ground who transferred him to Genesis Medical Center-East Rushholme Street, Davenport. His condition was reported as good with minor cuts and bruises.

Judy Knutsen of Davenport was shocked to learn her nephew was on the Ferris wheel. Knutsen had seen the accident videotape on KWQC-TV6 when her sister, Hill's foster mother and legal guardian, called her with the news from Atlanta.

"He likes things to keep moving; he wouldn't have liked it when they stopped," Knutsen said of Hill, noting the HDC doesn't usually take Hill to the fair. "They thought they'd try one more time."

Karen Wenndt, Hill's guardian and the woman he calls "Mama," got Hill when he was born 31 years ago. She lives with her husband in Atlanta but keeps in touch with him with the help of Knutsen and the HDC employees. He has lived in one of the center's residential homes since 1986.

"I was surprised they took him out there today; he just can't tolerate heat," she said. "He gets very, very agitated with the heat."

Wenndt said Hill has very low-level skills but can be strong and agile. "You don't know from one minute to the next where he'll go," she said, noting the Ferris wheel doesn't have seat belts. "To put him in something that didn't secure him - I wouldn't have been brave enough to do it."

But Hill loves the HDC, and the Wenndt family appreciates the care he receives in the special home. "HDC has done a wonderful job of caring for him, I've always been well satisfied," she said.

"People enjoy Caleb; he's such a character, and you never know what shenanigans he'll pull," Wenndt said. "He's just happy-go-lucky and he makes you laugh."

The Ferris wheel was shut down by Evans United Rides but also was deemed safe by a state inspector who was on the scene.

Frank Guenthner, president of FX Inspection Services of Chester Springs, Pa., examined the ride twice on Tuesday, including all the safety devices. "There's nothing wrong with it," he said, adding that carnival rides are very safe and undergo regular inspections.

"It's just unfortunate when something like this happens," he said.

Richard Wells of Evans, was one of those who scaled the ride and helped rescue Hill. He said the incident is very rare, but carnival employees attend safety classes and watch instructional tapes. The wheel, he said, "is easy to climb, if you know how."

Bob Fox, general manager of the fair, focused his concern on safety at the fairgrounds. He said future outings are up to agencies like the HDC. He said about 1,200 special-needs visitors came to the first day of the fair.

The HDC's Martel said Hill's caregiver was traumatized by the accident and left work early. Wenndt said it's not surprising that Hill gave her such a scare.

"When the devil's in Caleb's eye -watch out," she said.

Deirdre Cox Baker can be contacted at (563) 383-2492 or dbaker@qctimes.com.