Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Rescuers retrieve 16 people from stuck Panorama ride at Helsinki amusement park

July 22, 2023

The park goers received an unexpected ride down.

Video of Friday evening's rescue operation. Due to the size of the crane platform, only one or two
people could be taken down at a time.

YLE NEWS

Rescue services safely retrieved 16 people stuck in the Panorama ride at Helsinki's Linnanmäki
amusement park on Friday evening, after the device jammed on the way down.

The panoramic tower features a windowed, rotating platform with benches that brings riders to a
height of 53 metres from the ground. Built in 1987, the attraction offers broad views of the capital
area.

Rescue services were notified at a little before 7pm on Saturday that the device had gotten stuck,
according to on-duty rescue services chief Janne Taskinen.

Using a fire truck crane, rescue workers brought each of the 16 people safely to the ground. But the
process took some time, as only a limited number of people can fit on the crane platform at once.

View of rescue services helping 16 people who found themselves stuck on the Panorama ride at
Linnanmäki on Friday evening. Image: Berislav Jurišić / Yle

VP, 20230727 Page 1 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

"It depends on how many rescue services staff are on the crane. One or two additional people can be
taken on board at a time," Taskinen explained during the operation.

No one was injured in the incident, the on-duty chief said.

Around half of the passengers had been safely taken down by around 9:30pm, according to
Linnanmäki's managing director Pia Adlivankin, who added that the rescue effort had gone well and
thanked the Helsinki rescue services for a smooth operation.

Stuck last year

On-duty chief Taskinen said Helsinki rescue services have previously helped people out of Panorama
before and the department has also used the tall attraction for training purposes. According to
tabloid Iltalehti, Panorama also got stuck in May of last year, an incident which trapped three people
for about an hour.

Managing director Adlivankin said the park will investigate the cause of Friday evening's incident and
take necessary actions to fix the issue.

She said the age of the device is not the reason for the failure, however.

"We constantly maintain our equipment. For example, our Vuoristorata (the park's popular wooden
roller coaster built in 1951), is 70 years old. We would never operate equipment that we don't think is
safe," Adlivankin said, adding that the park has never had any serious accidents due to damaged
equipment.

"The Panorama ride will not be opened to the public until the fault has been found and after that it
will be operated without passengers for a long time, to make sure it works," she said.

A MAN COLLAPSED AFTER RIDING A POPULAR ROLLERCOASTER AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM.

By ABBY REINHARD

JULY 21, 2023

Arturo Holmes / Getty Images for Disney Dreamers Academy

VP, 20230727 Page 2 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Some of the biggest Disney World draws are the rides, which guests sometimes wait hours in line for.
But as at every amusement park, there are remote risks to these attractions, including injuries. These
incidents are extremely rare, but Disney makes a point to document them. According to Fox 35
Orlando, the major theme parks in Florida are required to self-report injuries and other incidents to
the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). And the most recent report
includes a death. Read on out more about the unfortunate incident.

RELATED: People Are Turning Away From Disney Parks.

A man collapsed after riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock

The incidents are listed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Exempt Facility Report, with
the most recent data collected for the second quarter of 2023, which spanned from April to June. Per
the MOU Report, 11 incidents were reported at Florida parks, six of which were at Disney World.

According to the report, on May 26, a 44-year-old man collapsed after exiting the Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad, a popular ride at the Magic Kingdom. The report states that the guest "later
passed away from a personal illness."

No additional details are included with the report, and the document notes that data "reflects only
the information reported at the time of the incident." The report adds that "due to privacy concerns,
the Department does not receive updates to initial assessments of a patron's condition."

Best Life reached out to Disney World for more information, and will update the story upon hearing
back.

RELATED: Disney Park Attendance Has Plummeted—Here's Why, CEO Says.

Other injuries included a broken bone and seizures.

VP, 20230727 Page 3 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Craig Russell / Shutterstock

The other incidents at Disney World last quarter included both minor and more serious medical
conditions. In April, a guest experienced a seizure after riding Flight of Passage and another
experienced a seizure after riding Frozen Ever After.

In May, a nine-year-old guest "lost consciousness after experiencing" TRON Lightcycle/Run, a new
attraction.

And in early June, a 41-year-old man fractured his elbow while exiting the Tomorrowland Indy
Speedway, and later that month, a 27-year-old man experienced "chest pains and illness" after riding
Test Track.

Worker at Sweden's Grona Lund sustains concussion after collision with ride

July 17, 2023, Gröna Lund-arbetaren träffas av Insane (expressen.se).

A woman working at Grona Lund amusement park in Stockholm, Sweden, sustained a minor
concussion after being hit by the "Insane" roller coaster this week. According to reports, the woman
was retrieving a phone dropped by a guest when the incident occurred. A park spokesperson said the
ride did not strike the woman in the head. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.Full
Story: Expressen.se (Sweden) (Swedish-language content) (7/17)

10-year-old boy thrown from carnival ride

July 17, 2023

A 10-year-old boy thrown from a carnival ride at the Taste of Antioch fair, Illinois, Sunday afternoon
remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. The Antioch Fire Department received a call
around 2:40 p.m. Sunday. The 10-year-old boy, Huntley, was airlifted from Antioch to Advocate
Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge in critical condition. Village officials said Huntley was thrown
from the 'Moby Dick' ride while it was in motion after he was not properly fastened. The ride,
manufactured by Wisdom Rides of Colorado, features a 24-person bench that remains level as it
rotates at speed.

VP, 20230727 Page 4 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

"It's horrific. "Unacceptable. It's just unacceptable," said Dawne Pohlman, the boy's grandmother.
Huntley's family said he was transferred to Comer Children's Hospital, where he was undergoing
surgery Monday morning. His family said he is conscious. Pohlman said Huntley's mom was watching
from below, and when he went airborne, she tried to go to catch him before he crashed to the
ground.

The incident happened on the last day of Antioch's summer food and entertainment festival. "The
carnival was packed, and so a lot of people experienced seeing it," said Charles Smith, Commander of
Operations for the Antioch Police Department. "It's a traumatic event for our community." As the
injured boy was rushed to Lutheran General, Mayor Scott Gartner made the call to shut down all
carnival rides for the remainder of the event.

"Not only for the, you know, respect to the family that went through this, but also for the safety of
the rest of the residents to make sure there weren't other rides that could potentially be an issue,"
Gartner said. "The public safety for something like this is first and foremost."

Antioch village officials, along with the Department of Labor, are investigating what went wrong, with
a full report expected in the coming months. Media have reached out to the operator and owner of
that ride, All Around Amusements, for a comment, however none has been given at this time.

Woman struck by Top Thrill Dragster object suffered ‘permanent, disabling injuries’: suit

July 13, 2023

A woman who was struck in the head by a piece of metal that flew off the Top Thrill Dragster roller
coaster in 2021 claims she will need medical assistance for the rest of her life as treatment costs will
exceed $10 million, according to a lawsuit. Rachel Hawes was waiting in line to ride the Top Thrill
Dragster roller coaster at Ohio’s Cedar Point amusement park in August 2021 when she was hit in the
head by a random object, which was later identified as as steel 'proximity flag plate' that belonged to
the coaster.

VP, 20230727 Page 5 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

She filed a lawsuit in Erie County Common Pleas Courthouse in Ohio on Wednesday against Cedar
Fair L.P., the owner of Cedar Point amusement park, and Doe Corporation for “sums in excess of
$25,000” and punitive damages determined by a jury. Rachel claims to have suffered several severe
injuries including head trauma that resulted in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a brain hemorrhage and
hematoma and a head fracture associated with a cerebral laceration that resulted in the loss of
consciousness for more than 24 hours.

After being hit by the fallen metal object, Hawes received medical treatment at the park and was
transported between three different hospitals in Ohio and Michigan, where she racked up a medical
bill of over $2 million, with future costs expected to reach in excess of $10 million.

“The proximity flag plate came off the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster as a result of the bolts holding
it in place becoming loose (backing out) and breaking, failing to hold the plate in its proper position
as intended in accordance with its design because of improper installation and inspection,” Hawes’
attorneys allege in the suit. “The bolts on the proximity flag plate became loose and broke, due to the
negligence of the Cedar Point Defendants.” A proximity flag plate is a heavy “L-sharped” metal object,
roughly the size of a human hand, that bolts to the body of the train/cars of a ride

“The Cedar Park defendants were negligent with failing to protect individuals, such as Rachel Hawes,
from being injured from parts, debris, and/or objects falling from Defendant’s rides,” the lawsuit
read.

Hawes was enrolled in a graduate school program to become an educator but the lawsuit claims she
lost out on an estimated earning capacity sum of $1,265,000 and is “permanently disabled, and will
no longer be able to work.”

The park was found not responsible for Hawes’ injury, stating Cedar Park followed all laws and rules
pertaining to the operation of a roller coaster and found the situation was an accident, according to
an investigative report from the Ohio Department of Agriculture released in February 2022.

“After examining the documentation provided and conducting interviews of Cedar Point staff, ODA
found no evidence that Cedar Point had knowledge of or reason to believe that the Top Thrill
Dragster was in an unsafe condition that could cause a hazard to riders, employees, or the public on
August 15, 2021,” the report read.

The lawsuit also claims members of her family have been impacted by her injuries, including her
husband Slater, who is being “deprived of consortium, society, companionship, care, assistance,
attention, protection, advice, guidance and counsel of his wife along with mental anguish.”

Hawes’ father Robert Edmonds has experienced “fright, terror, and serious emotional distress,” after
watching his daughter get struck by the falling object.

Cedar Point declined comment on the suit, saying it does not discuss pending litigation.

Carowinds, crack in Fury Coaster support column.

July 10, 2023

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdWJPWuJcDs. Roller coaster track crack

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjwftNmqhDY.

VP, 20230727 Page 6 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

www.cbsnews.com/news/crack-roller-coaster-fury-325-shut-down-video-carowinds-investigation/.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvn-uT2HXrc. Removal of support beam.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkkh8772mL8. Returning of the new support beam.

A crack in a roller coaster's support beam was visible as many as 10 days before a viral video showing
the damaged beam prompted officials to shut down the ride at Carowinds in North Carolina on June
30. Officials say the crack in the Fury 325 coaster was evident six to 10 days prior to that viral video
being taken – yet the ride remained open.

Jeremy Wagner, a patron of the park, said he was the one who took the viral video of the crack while
his kids were on the ride. The Fury 325 is a two-passenger roller coaster that reaches 325 feet of
height and has a 81-degree drop, according to Carowinds. The park says at 1.25 miles long, it is the
longest steel coaster in North America and it even crosses the state line between North and South
Carolina.

Wagner's video shows a crack in a beam that appears to hold up the rails of the coaster. As the
coaster roars by, the column appears to sway.

Wagner told CBS Charlotte, North Carolina, affiliate WBTV he immediately showed park security the
video in an effort to shut down the ride. He at first didn't get a clear answer on if they would shut it
down and he later called the fire department, learning that his video led to the shutdown of the ride.

North Carolina Department of Labor is conducting an investigation into the incident and has not
made its findings public. "It looks like maybe six to 10 days prior, some pictures had been taken that
shows the beginning of the crack, and then by obviously last Friday, the thing was completely
severed," Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson told the Associated Press.

CBS News has reached out to the department for further information and is awaiting response.

In a statement on June 30, park officials said that the maintenance team was "conducting a thorough
inspection and the ride will remain closed until repairs have been completed."

In a new statement from July 6, provided to CBS News on Monday, park officials said the ride's
manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers Inc., had been inspecting it since July 1.
They said Carowinds was working closely with the manufacturers and planned to "remove and
replace the existing support column."

The new column, which will be made by B&M, is expected to arrive this week, they said.

"Following the installation of the new column, and as part of our normal protocol for rides such as
Fury 325, we will conduct an extensive series of tests to ensure the safety and integrity of the
coaster," the officials said. "These will include an accelerometer test that uses sensors to measure
any variation in the ride experience. After that, we plan to operate the ride for 500 full cycles,
performing tests and inspections of the entire ride throughout that period."

VP, 20230727 Page 7 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

After this, the park will work with the state's Department of Labor's Elevator and Amusement Device
Bureau to prepare for the ride's reopening, officials said, adding that date has yet to be determined.

Dobson told the Associated Press he is "very pleased" with Carowinds' efforts after the incident. The
department is investigating how the crack formed and why the ride remained open. "We're going to
take as long as it takes," he told the AP. "And until we're 100% comfortable issuing that new
certificate of operation, we will not do so."

Caro Winds Official Statement.

https://www.carowinds.com/blog/media-center/official-statement-fury-325

VP, 20230727 Page 8 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Fair worker killed under Gravitron ride

July 8, 2023

An amusement ride employee died following an incident at the Smith County Fair, Carthage,
Tennessee on thursday. Oval Lee Mudd, a 45-year-old man, died around 9:30am while working
underneath the Gravitron ride prior to the fair opening.

A company spokesperson of The James Gang Amusement Company said Lee was in training, and
among a group of men greasing the ride's bearings when the ride was turned off, but this process
involved rotating the ride. Workers believed they heard everyone say "clear" before proceeding, but
unfortunately, Lee's head wasn't out of the way, and he died after the incident. "They thought he was
clear, but a pole came back and hit him in the head," said Lee's sister, Jennifer Hiers. She says she
didn't receive the tragic news until nearly seven hours later when the Carthage Coroner messaged
her on Facebook. "No one from the company or the fair notified the family, you should get people's
emergency contact, whether they're working for you that day, a week, or however long. You should
have some way to contact their family if it's dangerous," Hiers said.

The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development initiated an immediate investigation
and after a third-party inspection concluded Friday morning, no operational issues with the ride were
found. The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) is also undertaking an
investigation, estimated to take between eight and ten weeks to complete.

VP, 20230727 Page 9 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Ride derails at festival in Sils, Spain

July 7, 2023

Last Friday, a ride derailed at a fair in Sils, Spain, while a man and his young son were riding. The man
sustained bruises, which paramedics treated on the scene, while the child was not injured.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.Full Story: Noticies 324 (Catalan-
language content) (Spain) (7/7)

Investigation into Smuggs’ waterpark accident underway

By Calvin Cutler

Published: Jul. 7, 2023 at 11:27 PM GMT+2

CAMBRIDGE, Vt. (WCAX) - An investigation is underway after a three-year-old nearly drowned at

Smugglers’ Notch Resort Thursday and remains hospitalized in critical condition.

The incident happened Thursday afternoon when the child, who was part of one of the resort’s day
camps, fell into an underground holding tank at the waterpark.

Vermont State Police say the Cambridge boy was walking near a splash pad at Notchville Park, the
resort’s waterpark when he fell into the tank filled with water.

VP, 20230727 Page 10 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Resort officials say lifeguards immediately responded to get him out, but police say the boy was
underwater for about 10 minutes. He’s currently at the UVM Medical Center University with life-
threatening injuries.

“At the moment our sole focus is on the welfare of the child and his family. The Smugglers’ family is
devastated that this accident occurred,” the resort said in a statement.

Smugglers’ Notch, the last major independently owned ski resort in Vermont is known for its family-
friendly atmosphere and its numerous child care and summer camp offerings.

The Vermont Department for Children and Families regulates daycare facilities and some summer
camps. Programs operating fewer than 13 weeks out of the year do not have to be regulated.
Programs serving 3, 4, and 5-year-olds do have to be regulated if they operate more than four hours a
day, even if it is less than 13 weeks per year. It’s not clear which program the boy was in.

The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration will now conduct an investigation. “We
have jurisdiction over safety in the workplace. And if we are made aware of a potential violation, we
will inspect it. If we find that a safety standard was violated, we will cite the employer,” said VOSHA’s
Dirk Anderson.

While the community at Smuggs is processing what happened, there is no timeline yet on when the
VOSHA investigation will be finished.

www.wcax.com/2023/07/07/investigation-into-smuggs-waterpark-accident-underway/.

Rollercoaster ride leaves festival-goers hanging upside down for hours [NSTTV]

By Reuters - July 6, 2023 @ 5:29am

WISCONSIN, United States: The excitement of a day at Wisconsin's Forest County Festival theme park
turned into an unexpected adventure on Sunday (July 2) when a rollercoaster ride malfunctioned,
leaving eight passengers suspended upside down for hours.

The Crandon Fire Department reported that a mechanical failure caused the ride, known as the
Fireball, to become stuck in the upright position.

Videos circulating on social media captured the moment rescuers climbed up the side of the
motionless ride while passengers anxiously awaited rescue while stuck in the middle of the track's
large loop section.

Due to the ride's height, specialised equipment and additional rescue teams were summoned to the
scene, as outlined in a joint news release issued by the fire department and the Crandon Area Rescue
Squad.

After a nerve-racking 45-minute wait, a ladder truck equipped with a 30.5-metre (100-foot) platform
arrived from a neighboring city.

Firefighters from three cities joined forces with the Crandon Fire Department to orchestrate the
intricate rescue mission.

Nearly two hours after the emergency crews were dispatched, the first passenger was safely brought
back to solid ground.

The last passenger was successfully rescued more than three hours after the rollercoaster stalled.

VP, 20230727 Page 11 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Emergency medical services attended to nine patients at the scene, with one individual requiring
transportation to Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital via ambulance, according to the news release.

The gravity of the situation necessitated an extensive response effort involving ten fire vehicles, nine
ambulances, and a total of 50 personnel from three counties.

The incident occurred just days after a concerned father discovered a crack in a steel support pillar
atop a rollercoaster at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina. — Reuters

https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2023/07/927879/rollercoaster-ride-leaves-festival-goers-
hanging-upside-down-hours-nsttv.

Riders stuck upside down for hours

July 4, 2023

Eight riders were left hanging upside down for over 3 hours after the 'Fireball' ride became stuck in
the air at the Forest County Festival in Crandon, Wisconsin, Monday. In video shared on social media,
by witness Scott Brass, firefighters talk to passengers to keep them calm while other staff grind metal
to help release the riders. The Fire Ball, manufactured by Larson International of Plainview Texas,
features a roller coaster train which rolls along a ring-shaped track, turning riders upside down at the
top of the loop.

Crandon Fire Department chief Brennan Cook said emergency services were called just after 1.30pm.
45 minutes after the incident, a 100ft platform ladder was utilized from the nearby City of Antigo, as
the local fire department did not have a high enough one; the first passenger was freed around two
hours later, and the last brought down just after 5pm. Eight people were treated on site by medics,
who were on the ride, consisting of seven children and one adult who was also taken to hospital.

A total of 10 fire trucks and nine ambulances with over 50 fire and rescue personnel from three
counties assisted in the evacuation; On Tuesday it was not clear what stalled the ride but because of
its height and release mechanisms, specialized rescue teams and equipment were needed to remove
the riders, according to a Crandon Fire Department news release.

www.facebook.com/search/top?q=amusement%20ride%20accidents%202023.

Water park in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, closed following inspection

July 2, 2023

City officials in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, recently inspected six local water parks. Five of the
properties passed review, but Parque Acuatico Mellaya was closed until further notice after
inspectors identified multiple safety and security infractions. Fines are expected after inspectors said
that lifeguards at the property were not certified and that guests brought unauthorized alcoholic
beverages onto the site.Full Story: La Voz de la Frontera (Mexico) (Spanish-language content) (7/2)

VP, 20230727 Page 12 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

1 hospitalized after chlorine exposure at Aquatica Orlando, fire officials say

Exposure may have been from worker mixing chemicals

July 1, 2023

One person was hospitalized due to chlorine exposure at the Aquatica Orlando water park on
Saturday, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – One person was hospitalized due to chlorine exposure at the Aquatica
Orlando water park on Saturday, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.

Fire officials said guests complained of a chlorine odor that was “Possibly the result of a maintenance
worker mixing chemicals.”

A 16-year-old with a history of asthma was transported to a local hospital, but no other details were
released on their status.

According to OCFR, six additional people were treated, but refused transport to the hospital.

SeaWorld, who owns Aquatica, released a statement that read:

“A small number of guests and employees at Aquatica were evaluated and treated today after
chlorine fumes were released during a third party vendor’s work in a non guest area. Our safety team
responded promptly and worked with Orange County Fire Rescue. The safety of our guests and staff is
always our top priority.”

SeaWorld

Tinley Water Park Closed After Apparent Drowning Of 5-Year-Old Girl

July 1, 2023

A 5-year-old girl died in an apparent drowning Friday at a Tinley Park water park. The park is closed
Saturday, staff announced

Lauren Traut,Patch Staff

Posted Sat, Jul 1, 2023 at 10:47 am CT Updated Sat, Jul 1, 2023 at 10:53 am CT.

White Water Canyon Water Park in Tinley Park will remain closed Saturday.

TINLEY PARK, IL — An autopsy is expected Saturday on a 5-year-old girl dead after an apparent
drowning at a Tinley Park-Park District water park pool Friday. The facility is closed Saturday following
the incident.

White Water Canyon Water Park, 8221 W 171st St., was set to open at noon Saturday, but will remain
closed for the day, staff said on social media. It's unclear if the park will reopen Sunday.

A child was pulled unresponsive from a pool at the park just before 4 p.m. Friday, after being
underwater for an unknown period of time. Lifeguards and paramedics performed CPR and lifesaving

VP, 20230727 Page 13 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

measures on-site. The child was taken to Silver Cross Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at
5:12 p.m., according to the Will County Coroner's office.

The girl's identity has not yet been released.

"The Tinley Park-Park District Board Commissioners and the entire Park District staff extend our
heartfelt condolences to the family who lost their loved one yesterday," staff wrote on social media.
"Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Patrons urged counseling services for facility staff involved in the incident.

"Please provide grief counseling for the staff," one wrote. "So many of the lifeguards are young
adults."

A former longtime employee of the facility offered support for the staff via social media.

"Sending prayers and support to the family of this little girl as well as to ALL staff at WWCWP," the
woman wrote. "Working there for 13 years, it could have happened at any time while I was there.

"One thing I know for sure, is that this staff is the absolute best and highly trained. I know they
responded by doing everything right. You have so much support behind you."

Woman dead after falling from Ferris wheel; two other in critical condition at CWM

TALEBULA KATE

30 June, 2023, 6:42 pm

Image: FIJI POLICE

A woman has passed away while two others are admitted in critical condition at the Colonial War
Memorial Hospital after they fell off from a ferris wheel at a carnival at Laucala Bay, Suva today.

Police confirmed the incident saying the 21-year-old victim passed away allegedly from injuries
sustained after falling from the ferris wheel.

Investigations are ongoing.

More on this story in tomorrow’s The Fiji Times.

VP, 20230727 Page 14 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Girl injured on slide at Ohio's Land of Illusion Adventure Park

June 27, 2023

A 14-year-old girl suffered injuries from riding the water slide last week at Land of Illusion Adventure
Park in Middletown, Ohio, and is in stable condition and recovering from spinal surgery. An
investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. Park management expressed
concern for the girl in a statement and noted their commitment to guest safety. Full Story: WLWT-TV
(Cincinnati) (6/27)

Ride incident at SeaWorld San Diego in California leaves 1 injured

June 27, 2023

A man was transported to a hospital after suffering a leg injury while aboard the "Electric Eel" roller
coaster at SeaWorld San Diego in California on June 9. The California Division of Occupational Safety
and Health ordered the theme park to temporarily close the ride while the cause of the incident is
being investigated. Full Story: KFMB-TV (San Diego) (6/27)

Child rescued from near-drowning at Fun-Plex in Nebraska

June 26, 2023

A 6-year-old child was rescued Sunday after being found unconscious in a wave pool at Fun-Plex in
Omaha, Nebraska. The child was taken to a hospital while CPR was still being performed. Full Story:
KETV-TV (Omaha, Neb.) (6/26)

Ride incident at Clacton Pier in England injures 2 people

June 26, 2023

A guest and staffer received head injuries and were transported to a hospital following an incident
involving the "Looping Star" roller coaster at Clacton Pier in Essex, England. The ride was shut down
while a full inquiry is underway to determine the cause of the incident. Full Story: BBC (6/26)

VP, 20230727 Page 15 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

IMAGE SOURCE, MARTIN GILES/BBC

Image caption,

Two people have been injured in an incident involving a ride on Clacton Pier

Two people have been taken to hospital with head injuries after an incident on a rollercoaster at
Clacton Pier.

The incident involved the Looping Star ride at the Essex attraction just after 12:00 BST.

A spokesman for the pier said a male member of staff suffered a cut to his head and a woman in the
front car of the ride had a "bump to the head" and was suffering from shock.

A "full inquiry" is under way, Clacton Pier director, Billy Ball, said.

The Looping Star rollercoaster opened in 2021 and is a three-car train with 12 seats and includes a
10-metre loop.

Ride closed

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the incident.

Mr Ball said the man and woman were taken to Colchester Hospital.

"A full inquiry is now under way into what happened and we will be able to say more in due course
when we have the full details," he said.

"The ride will not be in operation until all the facts have been established as would be normal in this
type of incident.

"At Clacton Pier the safety and well-being of our staff and guests is our number one priority."

It is believed that the woman casualty was holidaying in the area with her family, the pier said in an
update on its website.

1 killed, several injured in roller coaster derailment

June 26, 2023

A 35-year old woman has died and nine riders were injured when the 'Jetline' roller coaster abruptly
derailed at Gröna Lund amusement park in Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday. Witnesses described a
chaotic scene as two riders were ejected - one landed on a nearby steel beam while the other fell
approximately 25 feet to the ground. Witness Ziba Assadi was standing just below the roller coaster
when she saw a wheel assembly of the front cart crash to the ground. “Then the cart stops and
people fly out, one of whom managed to land under track; so he sits there straddling the beam and
waits,” Assadi said. “The front of the train derailed and stopped at a height of between 6 and 8
meters (20 to 25 feet),” said park Chief Executive Jan Eriksson. On Monday, four adults remained
hospitalized, two with serious injuries and two with non life-threatening injuries. Children were also
among the injured, but all have now left Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital.

The park was evacuated after the accident and will remain closed for seven days to allow
investigators to find out what went wrong, park officials said. “This should not be allowed to happen,”
said Gröna Lund spokeswoman Annika Troselius “Safety is the most important thing for us. And we
would never open an attraction if we were not confident that it was safe, so this is something we

VP, 20230727 Page 16 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

need to investigate thoroughly.” Police also launched a criminal investigation on possible charges of
involuntary manslaughter, causing bodily harm and causing danger to others.

The Jetline roller coaster opened at the park in 1988, designed by Schwazkopf of Germany. According
to the park's website it features a top speed of 60mph (90km), and a maximum height of 105 feet (30
meter)

Child drowns at Splashville Water Park in Texas

June 25, 2023

A 4-year-old child died Saturday after being pulled unconscious from a pool at Splashville Water Park
in Stephenville, Texas. Lifeguards tried to resuscitate the child, who was taken to a hospital and later
declared dead. The water park was closed while the cause of the incident was being investigated. Full
Story: The Dallas Morning News (tiered subscription model) (6/25)

VP, 20230727 Page 17 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Man dies at Xcaret park in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico

June 17, 2023

An older man died last Saturday at the Xcaret park in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Paramedics retrieved the man from the pool when he began to drown and sustained cardiac arrest,
taking him to a local hospital where he was declared deceased. Doctors had previously treated the
man for a heart condition. Signage at the park advises guests under care for health concerns not to
use certain attractions. Quintana Roo State Attorney General's Office authorities have launched an
investigation. Full Story: Novedades Quintana Roo (Mexico) (Spanish-language content) (6/17)

20 rescued from Zipper ride

June 7, 2023

20 people were rescued on ladders when a Zipper ride malfunctioned around 9:30 p.m, Tuesday.
Rescue crews from the Mill Creek Fire Co. attended St John The Beloved Church Fair in Milltown,
Delaware, using two ladder trucks to safely evacuate twenty children and adults. "They were all
pulled off within 3 hours. So they did a great job," Delaware Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Robert
Fox said. The popular thrill ride, manufactured by Chance Rides of Wichita Kansas, features strong
vertical G-forces and intense tumbling spins.

Initial State Fire Marshal investigations indicate that some 'u-bolts' may have come loose, causing one
cage to slide into another and abruptly halt the ride. "Being the guy that inspected this several days
ago, I was obviously concerned. Did I screw up or not? I took a look at all the equipment and all the
parts, and it was fine," President of FX Inspection Services, Inc., Frank Guenthner said. "It's very
disappointing. Of course, it's always a risk."

The Zipper was dismantled for inspection and repairs the following day, while the remaining carnival
rides at the Church fair continued to operate.

VP, 20230727 Page 18 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

20 injured in chair swing collapse

May 7, 2023

Twenty people, including 12 children, were injured when a chair swing collapsed in Orenburg, Russia.
The incident occurred early Saturday, when a structural failure caused chairs to crash to the ground,
according to local authorities, 12 people, including six children, were hospitalized, and a woman and
a child were placed in an intensive care unit, with life-threatening injuries.

The mayor's office said that the accident had been caused by a malfunction of the ride's lifting
mechanism. "the heads of the commercial organizations Attraktsion-Servis and Vintazh were
detained as suspects," the committee's statement read. According to local sources, the attraction had
only recently been installed at the amusement park.

Investigations continue.

www.facebook.com/AmusementRideAccidents/videos/803744481168418.

6 injured at Colorado resort after HVAC system collapses in pool area

Two people have life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

By Meredith Deliso

May 6, 2023, 10:40 PM

6 injured after HVAC system collapsed at a Colorado resort

An HVAC system collapsed in an indoor pool area at a Colorado resort, according to authorities.

Six people were injured, including two in life-threatening condition, after an HVAC system collapsed in
an indoor pool area at a Colorado resort, authorities said.

The Aurora Fire Rescue said its rescue team responded Saturday morning to the Gaylord Rockies
Resort in suburban Denver "where there is a reported collapse of mechanical equipment in the
aquatics area."

Aurora Fire Rescue responds to Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado, May 6, 2023.

VP, 20230727 Page 19 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Multiple 911 callers reported that the HVAC system collapsed inside the pool area at the resort, the
department said. About 50 to 100 people were in the area at the time, it said.

First responders treated six patients, including two with life-threatening injuries, who were all
transported to local hospitals, the fire department said.

Aurora Fire Rescue responds to Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado, May 6, 2023.

abcnews.go.com/US/6-injured-colorado-resort-after-mechanical-equipment-
collapses/story?id=99141889.

Six injured as HVAC system collapses at crowded Colorado resort pool | The Independent.

Germany's Freizeitbad Oktopus evacuated after chlorine-related incident

April 17, 2023
Firefighters in Siegburg, Germany, cleared 100 people from Freizeitbad Oktopus on April 15 after the
water park experienced a deflagration in the chlorine gas system. Routine cleaning of the park's
chlorine gas systems in the basement triggered the incident. A doctor at the scene treated two
people who reported respiratory irritation due to the chemicals. The park reopened after an hour and
a half. Full Story: General-Anzeiger-Bonn (Germany) (German-language content) (4/17)

Two injured in roller coaster fire

April 10, 2023
Two riders were injured when a roller coaster vehicle caught fire at the Futuroscope theme park in
Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, France on April 7. One Guest is said to have suffered burns to the ear
and neck, while the other received injuries to her shins; both were treated by paramedics on-site.
The ride, known as Objectif Mars (translated as Destination Mars), was built by Intamin of
Switzerland in 2020, and is described by the park as ‘an educational combination of a dark ride and
coaster.’ An eyewitness video shared by local media shows a roller coaster compartment engulfed by
flames shortly before ride attendants successfully extinguish the fire.
Futuroscope stated that the roller coaster fire “was caused by a lithium battery situated under the
second carriage but quickly controlled by the Park’s team.” Adding that Objectif Mars is currently
closed until further notice.
www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1664582717307549&extid=WA-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-
GK1C&mibextid=2Rb1fB&ref=sharing.

VP, 20230727 Page 20 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Two ejected from fairground ride

April 7, 2023

A seven-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl received minor injuries after falling out of the 'Crazy Frog'
ride, at a funfair in Epsom UK, around 7:10pm on April 3rd. The ride, manufactured by Safeco of
Spain, is also known as a Jump 'n Smile and consists of 12 rotating arms, each bearing a 2-3 passenger
cart that bounces up and down with compressed air.

A witness to the incident told local reporters "It was chaos, the injured girl landed at the back of the
ride and appeared to basically slip out of her seat and went flying out as it spun round, the children
had been shouting at ride staff as they could see she was beginning to fall from the car. it’s a miracle
the girl isn’t more seriously injured' She was screaming in pain, we all feared the worst."

One child was flown to a hospital in London while the other was driven to a hospital in Sutton, South
London. It has been confirmed the two were discharged from hospital with minor injuries.

The manager of the funfair stated: "We don’t know exactly what’s happened at the minute until the
ride is tested so we can open it back up again."

Amusement park worker in critical condition with head injuries

March 25, 2023

A 52-year-old male amusement park employee suffered serious head injuries when his head came in
contact with a roller coaster cart. Police, paramedics and the air ambulance were called to Ocean
Beach Pleasure Park, in South Shields, UK around midday Sunday. The man was taken by road to
Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary where he remains in a critical but stable condition. It is believed
the staff member was injured whilst at ground level within the area of the 'Crash Test' roller coaster.

Ocean Beach Management stated "We can confirm a work-related incident took place on the
morning of Sunday 19th March which involved a member of staff during daily testing and

VP, 20230727 Page 21 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

maintenance. "This happened at ground level on an amusement ride before it was open to the public.
No other employees or members of the public were injured. "We would like to thank the emergency
services who arrived promptly and then took the staff member involved to the RVI in Newcastle. "The
ride owner/operator is working closely with the Health & Safety Executive and Northumbria Police.
"Our thoughts at this time are with the staff member involved and we will give further updates in due
course."

An HSE spokesperson stated "We are aware of this incident and are assisting Northumbria Police to
establish what happened."

Eleven injured in aerial ride collapse

www.facebook.com/watch?v=1245579119691202.

March 22, 2023

Eleven people were injured when an aerial observation ride collapsed at a fair in Rajasthan, Ajmer
district, India on Tuesday. The victims were riding the carousel when it suddenly plummeted while on
its downward journey. The fair attraction was said to be close to 50 feet tall, according to reports.

A police official said the incident occurred due to a break in a cable. "Eleven people have suffered
injuries. They are being treated at the JLN government hospital and are out of danger," the official
added. Other people at the scene rushed the injured to nearby hospitals. The swing's owner is
currently being questioned by officials. Authorities have guaranteed activity against individuals
responsible for the mishap.

VP, 20230727 Page 22 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

7 guests injured after tree branch fell on them at San Antonio Zoo

The tree branch "unexpectedly" broke and fell on guests Wednesday afternoon.
ByTeddy Grant

March 15, 2023, 11:07 PM

Seven people were sent to the hospital after a tree branch fell on them at a zoo in Texas, according to
the San Antonio Fire Department.

The tree branch "unexpectedly" broke and fell on guests Wednesday afternoon at the San Antonio
Zoo, the zoo confirmed.

According to the fire department, one of the injured guests was seen as "level 1 priority care," while
the other injured guests were sent to the hospital out of precaution.

The zoo's security and emergency services staff responded quickly and began treating the injured
guests, according to the zoo.

San Antonio Police and fire officials responded to the scene within minutes, zoo officials said.

A tree fell at the San Antonio Zoo, injuring guests, on March 15, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. Seven
people were hospitalized.

The conditions of the injured guests are unknown at this time.

ABC News' Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.

Child's foot fractured on fair ride

March 13, 2023

An 11-year-old child received serious foot injuries while on the "Shaker Dance" thrill ride at the
Festi'Park fair in Saint-Pierre, France around 9pm Friday. Paramedics attended the scene in front of
many shocked witnesses. “I saw the dad carry his little boy with his foot dangling and the bone was
broken” said a witness who contended that "the child must have taken his leg out of the attraction."
The attraction features two-person inverting carts that rotate at speed, also known as a "King Loop"
manufactured by Fabbri of Italy.

The fair continued to operate on Monday with ride owner, Mr Bernard commenting "Zero risk does
not exist - it's an accident that can happen at any time, and in any fairground, whether in France, the

VP, 20230727 Page 23 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

United States or Germany. There are accidents, that's how it is"

An investigation was opened by local police and the ride remains cordoned off to the public.

Hippopotamus attacks curator security guard at Vadodarra Zoo

March 10, 2023

The condition of the security guard is said to be critical while Patankar has suffered multiple fractures
Satish Jha, DHNS, Ahmedabad, MAR 10 2023, 12:48 ISTUPDATED: MAR 10 2023, 12:48 IST...

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/hippopotamus-attacks-curator-

security-guard-at-vadodara-zoo-1198793.html.

“Frightening Incident” Takes Place at Water Park, Multiple Guests Harmed After Structure Falls
From Sky

"Frightening Incident" Takes Place at Water Park, Multiple Guests Harmed After Structure Falls From
Sky - Inside the Magic.

February 21, 2023 by Thomas Hitchen

VP, 20230727 Page 24 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Credit: DreamWorks Water Park

Water theme parks are some of the most exciting destinations for Guests to visit. With a variety of
different types spread across the United States, water parks allow family-friendly fun amid wave
pools, slides, lazy rivers, and rapids.

Unfortunately, for some Guests visiting the DreamWorks Water Park in East Rutherford, New Jersey,
this past Sunday, February 19, 2023, their visit to the 8.5 acre theme park ended in injury after a
decorative helicopter structure fell from the sky and into the pool area. This park is home to
franchises like Shrek and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Credit: DreamWorks

Water park incident reported in New Jersey

According to reports (via Deadline), the incident occurred in the afternoon of February 19 when a
decorative helicopter suspended on the ceiling of the building came crashing down into the pool area
occupied by Guests.

Due to the collapse, “at least” four Guests were injured, with one taken to hospital and the others
treated by medical professionals at the scene. They were all reported as minor, non-life threatening
injuries.

VP, 20230727 Page 25 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Operators of the American Dream Mall, where the DreamWorks Water Park is situated, said in a
statement they were launching a “thorough investigation into [the] incident to ensure the park meets
all safety regulations as required.”

In a tweet posted February 20, the American Dream Mall said that the DreamWorks Water Park
would be closed Monday, February 20, through Wednesday, February 22. The company said all
Guests who had pre-purchased tickets would need to check their email for more information.

DreamWorks Water Park

DreamWorks Water Park opened in October 2020 adjacent to New Jersey’s American Dream:
Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park. The 8.5 acre indoor water park is the largest of its kind in North
America and features theming from some of DreamWorks Animation’s most beloved franchises
like Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and, arguably, the most popular, Shrek. Attractions include the
Bubbly Lazy River, Jungle Jammer, Dragon Racers, Kung Fu Panda Temple Of Awesomeness Play
Structure, and King Julien’s Pineapple Jam Swim-Up Bar.

American Dream Mall accident: 4 injured after decorative helicopter falls from ceiling into swimming
pool in New Jersey - ABC7 Chicago

Inside the Magic will continue to update this developing story.

Ride panel detaches, woman injured

February 14, 2023

A rider received minor injuries when a 6ft lighting centerpiece detached from the 'Spinout' ride at the
Florida State Fair, Sunday afternoon. Spinout a high-speed thrill ride manufactured by Tivoli UK, under
license from KMG, features suspended seats that rotate at speed on three axis. Eve Brock said “It
almost felt when we were riding that the whole ride was falling down, which was really, really
terrifying, so I stuck my feet out to try to stop it from hitting us, I would stop it with my feet, more
bulbs would burst, it was spinning so fast I knew the hinge holding it couldn’t last long under that
constant jarring.”

Brock was seated next to her boyfriend’s 6-year-old daughter while she says she waited nearly 20
minutes to get off the ride, and sprained both ankles. “As I was panic-attacking, she was looking up at

VP, 20230727 Page 26 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

me just sobbing her little eyes out, she couldn’t do anything, she didn’t know what was going on.”
Brock said the fair paid for her emergency room visit and offered her free ride tickets for a future
visit.

“The ride operator followed proper safety protocol and brought the ride down safely to its resting
position,” said Frank Zaitshik, Wade Shows Owner & Midway Manager for the Florida State Fair. “EMS
was onsite, one person was evaluated and to our knowledge, there was no further treatment needed.
Wagner Consultant Group, our third-party Ride Inspection Team, along with the Florida Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services, reinspected the ride and found it to be safe to return to
operation.”

Woman falls to death off fair ride, lands on operator booth

February 5, 2023

A woman fell to her death after coming out of her seat on a high-speed thrill ride at the Clermont-
Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme) Funfair, in France around 4:30pm Saturday. The 25-year-old woman fell at
least 65 feet (20 meters) from the Maxximum ride, a 164 feet (50 meter) tall swinging pendulum ride.
It is believed the woman landed on the roof of the ride operator's control booth, and the ride's

VP, 20230727 Page 27 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

operator required medical assistance. Manufactured by Mondial of Holland in 2002, the ride, also
known as a Capriolo R25, features an 8-person spinning gondola that gives an additional kick to the
swinging action of the arm, and produces high g-forces. The ride features over-the-shoulder locking
restraints as well as secondary harness belt fasteners. Despite chest-compressions by paramedics, the
woman died of cardio-respiratory arrest, and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Smur of
Clermont-Ferrand medical team at around 5:30pm.

A psychological support service has been set up at the Clermont University Hospital Gabriel-
Montpied, to assist those including seven people who witnessed the accident. A security perimeter
was quickly set up by the police officers of the central police station in Clermont around the ride.

Investigators from the departmental security of Clermont-Ferrand immediately began first findings,
with the reinforcement of forensic identification specialists, as investigations continue as to how the
woman was ejected.

VP, 20230727 Page 28 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

Disneyland employees laughed at woman before deadly fall, lawsuit alleges

January 23, 2023

The family of a disabled woman, 66, who died five months after falling on the Jungle Cruise ride says
Disneyland employees laughed at the park goer when she struggled to get out of a boat, according to
a wrongful-death lawsuit. Joanne Aguilar, 66, visited Disneyland in August 2021 and opted to ride on
a regular Jungle Cruise boat with the assistance of her daughters when park employees said that a
wheelchair accessible boat wasn’t available. When Aguilar was trying to exit the boat at the end of
the ride the lawsuit says she lost her balance and fell back, breaking her leg. It alleges that employees
at the exit of the ride not only didn’t assist her but laughed as she struggled to get up the boat’s
steps.

“My clients went to Disneyland with the hopes of creating lifelong happy memories and instead are
left with the memory of a lack of dignity and respect for their mother which ultimately led to her final
demise,” the family’s lawyer Michael Jeandron told local reporters. “Two daughters are heartbroken,
healing and seeking accountability for Disney cast members who laughed at their struggling mother
instead of helping her.” The lawsuit says employees “placed small unsecured blocks on top of the
existing steps inside the boat to reduce the height of each step” as she was exiting the boat. “Exiting
the boat was more difficult as it required her to propel her body upward with her lower legs, which
due to her disability was not possible. The struggle was apparent, and Disney cast members began
giggling as they watched Ms. Aguilar try to safely exit the boat,” the lawsuit says, which made Aguilar
fall backwards and break her leg.

She was rushed to a hospital, underwent surgery and then spent the next five months at a
rehabilitation facility where she contracted an infection and died of septic shock in January of last
year. The lawsuit, which names the Walt Disney company, Disney's theme park division and
Disneyland, alleges wrongful death, a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and seeks
monetary damages for pain, mental suffering, humiliation, medical costs and funeral expenses.

Disney denied that it discriminated against Aguilar in any way and said that her injuries were caused
by her own negligence in a written court response in late December. Disney are seeking a jury trial.

VP, 20230727 Page 29 of 30

Accidents in Leisure Industry January 2023 through June, 2023

62 people evacuated from Icon Park Ferris Wheel

January 2, 2023

62 people were evacuated from a 400 foot (122 meter) Ferris Wheel at Icon Park, Florida, when the
power failed, around 6:20pm on New Year's Eve. According to Orange County Fire Rescue
spokesperson Martis Mack, around 20 of the 30 available pods were unloaded of riders over a period
of around 3 hours, when a manual crank was used to rotate the wheel's pods to ground level. No
injuries were reported.

Randy Pryor, an eyewitness at the park, said on Twitter: "Lights were visible in the cars for a short
time, then a massive shower of sparks flew from the wheel and power was then lost to almost all of
the cars."

What caused the power to cut off is not clear at this time, however the Orange County Fire and
Rescue Dept had used the same wheel for evacuation practice-drills and were very familiar with the
daunting task of disembarking 62 people from the Wheel with no power to rotate it or open the
doors. In the Bakers' case, when the pod was lowered to the platform, firefighters opened a hatch at
the top of the pod and made their way down a ladder to open the pod's doors from the inside.

The ferris wheel opened at Icon Park in 2015; the same amusement park where teen Tyre Samson
died after plummeting off a free fall ride in March 2022.

www.facebook.com/AmusementRideAccidents/videos/952398775724571.

VP, 20230727 Page 30 of 30