On July 9, Salina Higgins of Arizona took her daughter and niece on a particular journey to SeaWorld San Diego. She and her 10 12 months previous have been excited to trip the Electrical Eel, one of many parks tallest and quickest rides, which boasts 135-foot drop and speeds reaching as much as 62 miles per hour. However Higgins says the expertise went from thrilling to terrifying when considered one of her daughter’s restraints got here undone whereas the kid was upside-down. “Scariest day of my life and worst concern ever,” she wrote in a now-viral TikTok detailing the rollercoaster expertise.
Very first thing’s first: all people is bodily OK. Higgins, her daughter, her niece, and all the opposite Electrical Eel riders. But it surely’s clear, each from the preliminary video (which, as of press time, has been considered practically eight million instances) and follow-ups, that Higgins continues to be shaken up from her expertise.
“As we received to the primary upside-down a part of the trip, my daughter screamed in terror trigger [sic] she noticed her shoulder straps dangling in entrance of her,” she wrote over a nonetheless of a video taken by her niece. She continued, “I used to be in a position to safe the strap and held onto my daughter one of the best I might in absolute concern.”
It’s essential to notice that the Electrical Eel doesn’t depend on the “shoulder straps” — formally known as “consolation collars” — for restraint, however fairly a lap bar that remained secured all through the period of trip. The truth is, a SeaWorld trip in Orlando, Ice Breaker, even eliminated the consolation collars final 12 months. Although, I don’t learn about you, but when any type of machine meant to be holding me in place comes unfastened throughout a trip, I’m completely going to panic.
Furthermore, an indication displayed forward of the Electrical Eel instructs riders should preserve the consolation collars secured always. Higgins additionally advised NBC 7 San Diego that each one restraints had been checked previous to the trip beginning, each by her and an Electrical Eel attendant, so the truth that one restraint got here undone didn’t fill her with a lot confidence for the first security characteristic, both.
When the trip ended, Higgins defined to NBC 7 San Diego that she advised an attendant what occurred. The attendant, she mentioned, apologized, however continued to load folks onto the rollercoaster. she addressed her issues with the SeaWorld staff staffing the trip, who apologized however loaded extra folks on however. Higgins went on to report her expertise to visitor providers, who provided a go to return. (“NO THANK YOU!”) She went on to talk to higher administration.
“As a substitute of an apology or sympathy, he requested us if we learn the disclaimer earlier than using the trip,” Higgins wrote in her TikTok. “I requested if that disclaimer said the shoulder straps have been non-compulsory. He chuckled and mentioned ‘in all probability not.’”
She went on to say that administration, whom she recognized as Jeff Stein, known as safety and had her escorted out of the park.
CBS 8 San Diego reached out to Sea World for an announcement. The park wrote,
We take security very significantly and perceive that this visitor perceived a danger that brought on her concern. There was not, nonetheless, a security concern throughout the trip. All rides and sights, together with Electrical Eel, are designed, operated and inspected every day in accordance with all relevant requirements and producer specs. The “harness” this household is referencing is named a “consolation collar,” which is meant for the rider’s consolation and isn’t a restraining machine. The lap bar and shin bar are the one restraining units on the coaster, they usually remained securely in place all through your entire trip. Signage on the entrance of the trip signifies that the consolation collar is for rider consolation solely.”
However in a follow-up video, Higgins notes that “The reality is, an apology would have gone a great distance and in all honesty in all probability would have made 99% of every little thing that I’ve carried out to this point not occur.” As a substitute, she explains, she felt SeaWorld administration belittled her issues and had her escorted off the property. “If they only would have shut it down for 2 seconds, double verify that strap… I’m not saying shut it down for days, months, do away with it solely. I’m speaking about possibly 20 minutes. Do a few check runs, verify all of the straps. I don’t suppose that’s asking an excessive amount of.”
The California Division of Occupational Security and Well being (Cal/OSHA), whom Higgins has been involved with within the aftermath of her expertise, are investigating the matter.
