A patron at one of the nation’s newest amusement parks has died after riding a roller coaster there. According to the Associated Press, Florida authorities confirmed they found a man in his 30s unresponsive after riding the coaster at Epic Universe on Wednesday, September 18.
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Limited Details Released About Roller Coaster Death
In a statement to AP, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando said medics took the man to the hospital. However, he was pronounced dead there. The man’s identity is not yet public information, and it’s unclear if he was visiting the amusement park alone or with a group.
Officials from Epic Universe tell AP that the roller coaster involved is the Stardust Racers. The park’s website describes the ride as “a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph).”
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No further details were immediately available early Thursday.
Epic Universe Releases Statement Amid Limited Details
A Universal Orlando Resorts spokesperson told the AP: “The company is devastated by the incident and extends its sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones. We are fully cooperating with Orange County and the ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.”
Universal opened the amusement 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. However, it’s worth noting that 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.
Other Incidents At The Newly Opened Amusement Park
Unlike smaller venues and fairs, Florida’s largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections. Instead, the largest theme parks, like Walt Disney World and Universal, conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols. However, they must report any injury or death to the state.
Since Epic Universe opened in May, there have been three reports. In May, a 63-year-old man with a preexisting condition experienced dizziness and “an altered state of consciousness.” In another instance, a 47-year-old woman with a preexisting condition had a “visual disturbance” and numbness after the ride. They both rode the Stardust Racers coaster on separate days. Additionally, a 32-year-old man reportedly experienced chest pains after going on the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders ride.
Epic isn’t the only park to be involved in incidents this year. In the second quarter, there were a dozen reports from Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld Orlando. One example was a 78-year-old woman who became unresponsive on a child-friendly carousel at SeaWorld. Meanwhile, in another incident, an 87-year-old woman with a preexisting condition lost consciousness after going on the Dinosaur ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
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Associated Press staff contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
