Man dies from blunt impact injuries after roller coaster ride at Universal Orlando’s newest park
Following a roller coaster ride at Universal Orlando, a man in his 30s died from blunt impact injuries. The medical examiner ruled it an accident, leaving many questions unanswered. Universal extended sympathies to the family and is cooperating with the investigation.
A man who became unresponsive after riding a roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort's newest park has died from blunt impact injuries, according to a medical examiner's report on Thursday.
Joshua Stephany, the medical examiner for the Orlando area, classified the death as an accident following an autopsy. The statement did not provide specific details about the injuries, including the location on the body where they were found, as reported by AP.
The man in his 30s was found unresponsive after riding the coaster at Epic Universe on Wednesday, the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Orlando said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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Dennis Speigel, CEO and founder of consulting firm International Theme Park Services, called the autopsy’s conclusion “pretty shocking,” and he said it raised more questions than it answered.
“Was it the head or the chest? Was he banging around? Was he in his seat properly?” Speigel said. “Was it an accident caused by the ride or him doing something?”
The medical examiner's office didn't respond to an email seeking further details on the injuries, AP reported.
The roller coaster involved was Stardust Racers, Universal officials said in a statement. It's described on the resort's website as “a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph).”
“We are devastated by this tragic event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones,” a Universal Orlando Resorts spokesperson said in a statement. "We are fully cooperating with Orange County and the ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.”
After the autopsy was released, Universal said it couldn’t comment beyond its earlier statement because of the ongoing investigation.
Universal opened the park in May. It has five themed sections and a 500-room hotel.
It’s the first major, traditional theme park to open in Florida since 1999, when Universal Islands of Adventure debuted, though Universal opened a themed Orlando water park, Volcano Bay, in 2017.
The addition of Epic Universe brought the total number of parks at the Florida resort to four, including Universal Studios.
Florida’s largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections, unlike smaller venues and fairs. Instead, the largest theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols, but they must report to the state any injury or death.
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In the second quarter of this year, a dozen incidents were reported across Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld Orlando. These incidents included a 78-year-old woman becoming unresponsive on a child-friendly carousel at SeaWorld and an 87-year-old woman with a preexisting condition losing consciousness after riding the Dinosaur ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Since the opening of Epic Universe in May, there have been three reported incidents. In May, a 63-year-old man with a preexisting condition experienced dizziness and “an altered state of consciousness,” while a 47-year-old woman with a preexisting condition reported “visual disturbance” and numbness after riding the Stardust Racers coaster, both on separate days.
Additionally, a 32-year-old man experienced chest pains after riding the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
(With inputs from AP)