Agree, associations with the phrase "amusement park" can only be light. A picture of the holiday is immediately drawn in my head: cotton candy, children's smiles, rides and general fun. It's no secret that the amusement park industry around the world is competing with each other - who will make the scariest and most exciting attraction for those who want to tickle their nerves. However, accidents have also happened in amusement parks that turned fun into a tragedy, sometimes with a fatal outcome.
Matterhorn Bobsled, Disneyland, Anaheim, California
"Matterhorn Bobsleigh" - a steel roller coaster modeled after the Matterhorn mountain Swiss Alps, were the site of the first fatality at Disneyland in 1964, when a 15-year-old boy was injured after standing up in a trailer and falling. He died three days later as a result of his injuries.
Big Dipper, Battersea Park, London, UK
« Big bucket”, a wooden rollercoaster in Battersea Park, London, caused one of the most tragic accidents in the history of amusement parks. In May 1972, a train that was climbing to the top of the ride broke free of its towline and rolled back into another car. As a result of the accident, five children died and 13 received various injuries.
Ride of Steel, Darien Lake, Darien, New York
In July 2011, Iraq War veteran James Hackemer, who lost both of his legs in a bombing raid, died in a fall from Steel Hill at Darien Lake Amusement Park in New York. The attraction was closed, but soon reopened, as the operator of the attraction was to blame for the death. Hackemaker could not be allowed on the slides due to his physical condition.
Hydro, Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire, Wales
In April 2004, a 16-year-old girl died from injuries internal organs from a 30m fall from the top of the Hydro water ride in Oakwood, Wales. It was later discovered that the ride's workers had not checked the girl's harnesses and safety bar.
Cyclone, Coney Island, New York
Built in 1927, the Cyclone attraction is one of the most unsuccessful in the United States. Before today Three people died on these slides. In May 1985, a 29-year-old man died after standing up and hitting his head on a crossbar. Just three years later, a 26-year-old man died after falling from the Cyclone, and in July 2007, a 53-year-old man broke his neck during a trip and died in hospital a few days later.
Flight Commander, Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
A 32-year-old woman fell off the Flight Commander ride at Kings Island Amusement Park and died from her injuries on June 9, 1991. Surprisingly, just an hour before this accident, two people died in the same park after receiving an electric shock while trying to save a man who had fallen into the park's pond.
Texas Giant, Six Flags Over Texas Park, Arlington, Texas
In July 2013, a 52-year-old woman died as a result of a fall from a height of 23 meters from roller coaster Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park. The woman, who may not have been well strapped in, fell out of the trailer and hit a support beam.
Fujin Raijin II, Expoland, Osaka, Japan
In May 2007, the Expoland amusement park in Osaka, Japan was the site of one of the worst accidents in amusement park history. Six Fujin-Raijin II cars derailed and collided with a guardrail after one of the car's wheel axle broke. As a result of the accident, one woman died, and another 19 people were seriously injured.
Batman, Six Flags Over Georgia, Cobb County, Georgia
In June 2008, a 17-year-old boy was beheaded by a passing carriage after he climbed over two fences and entered a restricted area to retrieve his cap. Six years earlier similar case occurred on the same attraction after a man violated the rules of the attraction and was killed by the feet of a passing passenger.
Black Witch, Magic Harbor, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Once a thriving amusement park and popular South Carolina getaway, Magic Harbor was the site of tragedy in 1983. A 13-year-old girl was almost decapitated after she stood up in the Black Witch ride. Shortly after her death, the park was completely closed.
Puff The Little Fire Dragon, Laguna, Farmington, Utah
Despite being one of the park's slowest and safest rides, Puff the Little Fire Dragon took the life of a 6-year-old boy in 1989. The boy slipped out of his seat belts, falling through the tracks and after he tried to climb back, the same trailer came back and hit him on the head, resulting in the child's death.
Superman Tower of Power, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville, Kentucky
In June 2007, the cables of the Superman Power Tower broke, hitting a group of young girls. One of the girls got tangled in the cables and while the trailer was falling, they cut off her legs. The attraction was closed immediately after the accident and soon completely removed from the park.
Mindbender, Galaxyland, Edmonton, Canada
The largest three-loop indoor roller coaster, The Hallucinogen, is also home to one of the biggest accidents in amusement park history. In June 1984, missing valves in the wheel of the last car caused the entire train to derail. The last car began to wobble violently, colliding with supporting structures and throwing passengers against a concrete column. Three people from this trailer died.
Ferris Wheel, Gulliver´s World Theme Park, Warrington, UK
In July 2002, a 15-year-old girl with Down syndrome died after she climbed out of her chair and fell off a Ferris wheel at Gulliver Amusement Park in England. During the investigation, it was discovered that she wanted to share a booth with her mother, but the park staff refused, stating that her mother was too big and needed a separate booth.
Ragin Cajun, Six Flags America, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
On May 29, 2004, a 52-year-old mechanic from Zion, Illinois was killed by a Furious Kaijun rollercoaster at Six Flags America in Maryland while he was trying to cross the tracks. After sustaining a head injury, the man died at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee shortly after the accident.
Colossus, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California
Once the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, the Colossus caused the death of a 20-year-old girl in 1978 when she fell out of a trailer. The crossbar was properly fixed, but due to the girl's obesity, it turned out to be ineffective. This accident caused the attraction to close for one year until the trailers were refurbished.
Alpine Slide, Action Park, Vernon, New Jersey
Action Park, sometimes also called Accident Park, is one of the most dangerous amusement parks in the world. In July 1980, a park employee was driving down Alpine Hill when his trailer bounced and hit his head on a rock, causing him to later die. However, the park's most intimidating attraction is the infamous Tidal Wave Pool, where several people have already drowned.
The amusement parks of the world compete among themselves - who will make the most terrible and exciting attraction, because it is clear that all people go to the attractions for thrills. But it happens that any small oversight and fun turns into a tragedy, sometimes with a fatal outcome.
King Island in Mason, Ohio
On June 9, 1991, death came to the King Island amusement park. First, the man fell into the pond. His friend William Haycoat, 20, and a 20-year-old park worker named Darrell Robertson, tried to save him. All three suffered an electric shock that was fatal to both Haycoat and Robertson. And just an hour later, 32-year-old Taylor Candy fell off the swing of the Flying Commander and crashed.
It is perhaps no coincidence that Kings Island Park is rumored to be haunted. People report seeing a girl in a blue dress. In 2012, an episode of Ghostbusters for the SyFy channel was filmed in the park.
Oakwood theme park in Pembrokeshire, Wales
In April 2004, 16-year-old Hayley Williams was in Oakwood Park with her family. While riding the Hydra (roller coaster), she suddenly flew out of the car and fell from a height of 30 meters (100 feet) to the ground. She later died from internal injuries.
The park has been fined £250,000 for negligence after park officials were found to have consistently ignored checks on the anchorages and harnesses that keep riders on the Hydra ride. The attraction was closed for a year after the accident, and after that it was renamed "Wet".
Action Park in Vernon, New Jersey
Action Park in New Jersey boasts perhaps the most worst reputation among amusement parks. The place is "perfect" for its number of unsafe rides, drunken patrons and demotivated teenage employees. People got countless injuries on water slides. At least six people have died in the history of the park, including three who drowned, died from a hit electric shock and one who died of a heart attack, presumably caused by shock from a temperature difference (cold water).
One person died when the car in which he was riding the Alpine Slide slipped and he crashed into a rock. By 1998, the crushing weight of the lawsuits forced the owners to close the Action Park. A few years later, it was reopened under a new name as Mountain Creek, but with an emphasis on safety, recklessness and sinister stories were buried under signs and rules.
Discovery Cove Orlando, Florida
Discovery Bay is part of the Sea World theme park in Orlando, Florida. Its goal is to provide its guests with an interactive experience, with the opportunity to swim among tropical fish and interact with dolphins, otters and monkeys. For many, such an experience is only a dream, but for 59-year-old British tourist Keith Clark, it will turn into a fatal nightmare. While swimming in the park, he cut his toe on a piece of coral.
A hemophiliac, Clark suffered complications from his wound and collapsed at the airport three days later on his way home. Suffering from septic shock, he was taken home to England, where doctors tried to save him by amputating his leg below the knee. However, it was too late and their efforts were in vain, Clark died of sepsis.
Cyclone Coney Island, New York
Today, Brooklyn's Coney Island is just a pale replica of the park in its pre-World War II glory days, but some of its most famous attractions, including the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone, are still in operation today. The Cyclone is a wooden rollercoaster that was built in 1927 and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. When the attraction opened, the ride cost only 25 cents, compared to $9 for a ticket to ride today.
The wobbly coaster has been linked to multiple injuries and at least three deaths. Last case happened to Keith Shirasawa, 53, who broke his neck on the first throw in the Cyclone. Shirasawa was taken to the hospital, but he died a few days later from surgical complications.
Gulliver's World Amusement Park Warrington, England
In July 2002, 15-year-old Salma Salim, who had Down syndrome, fell over 6 meters (20 feet) while riding a Ferris wheel at Gulliver's World Amusement Park. Salim died from a head injury. The results of the investigation showed that the girl wanted to go with her mother, but the park officials decided that she was too big and instructed her to sit separately in her own cabin.
Neither Salma nor her mother owned enough English language to protest, and the girl apparently got out of her seat and fell shortly after the trip began. Despite the fact that it was found that the safety lock that holds the skiers was closed after the accident, the park was fined a large amount for causing injury and safety violations.
Six flags over Georgia, Atlanta
Batman is a roller coaster that winds its way through the streets of Gotham City and into the depths of the Batcave. In June 2008, a trip claimed the life of 17-year-old Asia Lishawn Ferguson. Ferguson lost his cap while riding and, determined to get it, climbed over two fences, ignoring danger signs.
Unfortunately, the boy wandered into the tracks where the train was speeding 80 km (50 miles) per hour and was hit. Prior to this incident, six years ago, a park gardener had died under similar circumstances.
"Six Flags Over the Kingdom of Kentucky", Louisville
Not only the attraction "Batman" - a bloodthirsty superhero in the Six Flags family of amusement parks. The "Superman Tower" at the Six Flags Over the Kingdom of Kentucky amusement park was also the site of a horrific incident. The Superman Tower ride lifts its passengers about 17 times and then subjects them to a dizzying free fall.
Unfortunately, on June 21, 2007, the cable broke, wrapping 13-year-old Caitlin Lesitter around her neck and legs. She was able to remove the cable from her neck, but it was tightly wrapped around her legs, and tragedy occurred in free fall. Shortly after this incident, the attraction was removed from the park.
Ursa Major, Bettersea Fun Fair. London, England
In 1951, Bettersea Park in London presented the Amusement Fair as part of the Festival of Great Britain. The main attraction at the fair was the Big Dipper slide. Although this attraction did not seem scary, as some theme park slides seem now, in fact it turned out to be extremely dangerous.
In 1972 there was terrible accident when one of the train cars broke away from the train and rolled back to the station. Five children died and many were injured. The incident also spelled death for the Fun Fair, which barely made it to 1974, when it closed.
Big Adventure, Six Flags in Jackson, New Jersey
Attraction "Haunted Castle" in the amusement park "Six Flags. The Big Adventure was typical of most haunted houses: a quick walk through a darkened space where employees dressed as ghosts and goblins jump out to scare you. But on May 11, 1984, visitors to the park experienced true horror when the castle caught fire. Most of the visitors to the attraction were able to find a way to escape, several people were injured by smoke inhalation, but eight teenagers were trapped and died in the fire. Their bodies were burned beyond recognition and they could only be identified from the records of dentists.
An investigation was conducted into the tragedy in the park and it was found that the "Haunted Castle" lacked elementary precautions, such as sprinklers and smoke detectors. However, Six Flags Park escaped responsibility for this incident, as the castle was considered a "temporary structure" and the fire was most likely the result of arson rather than negligence.
Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia
And finally, to end on a light note, here is the strange case of Fabio Lanzoni. The Italian model is known for frequently posing for the covers of novels and was part of the "I can't believe it's not butter!" campaign. He also became part of one of the funniest events in amusement park history in 1999 while visiting Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.
Fabio was honored to be the first to ride the Chariot of Apollo during the opening. During the ride, the model suffered an unfortunate collision with a flying goose, as a result of which Fabio's nose was damaged. He was taken to the hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. The goose was not treated.
Mortality on adult attractions is comparable to mortality in car accidents, the death of children is comparable to death in road accidents
Last week, 21-year-old citizen of Belarus Dmitry Gurinovich died in the capital's Gorky Park on the Catapult attraction. The essence of this one of the most expensive rides (ticket price is 1600 rubles) is that the cables attached to two poles are hooked on a person’s belt and stretched. The tension force is calculated by a computer that takes into account the weight and height of a person. Then the cable holding the belt is fired, and the person soars into the air. This time, when the attraction was launched, the young man fell off the rubber cable and fell from a height of 60 meters onto a concrete slab. According to preliminary data, one of the carbines securing the rubber cable could not stand on the Catapult. The details are yet to be investigated. In the meantime, the "Catapult" and another no less popular attraction "Bungee" are temporarily closed.
It must be said that this is far from the first tragic incident for Gorky Park. As, however, for other Russian entertainment venues. In particular, the other day in the Cheryomushkinsky Intermunicipal Court of Moscow, hearings on the Transvaal-Park case began. Transvaal in Yasenevo is the largest water park in Europe. On weekends, an adult ticket costs 790 rubles for three hours. During the year of the Transvaal's existence, three people have already died in it. Among them is the famous stuntman Valery Saprykin, who performed the most difficult stunts in many films, for example, "Brotherhood" and " ice Age". All the tragic incidents took place on the same slide called "Cyclone". At the same time, the management of the park is perplexed: why is there so much attention to these deaths? There are only three deaths per 430 thousand people who have visited the park, while about 700 people die on Moscow beaches during the season.
There are no official statistics on ride accidents in Russia. Doesn't do it and Russian Association Amusement Parks and Manufacturers (RAPPA). Although, according to press reports, serious accidents happen all the time. Every year in the country, about a thousand children die from the impact of heavy swings and carousels, several thousand are seriously injured, and tens of thousands of fractures and bruises are accounted for. In the city garden of Tver (pah-pah-pah) the situation is more or less favorable. According to the director Vyacheslav Orlikov, for many years there has not been a single tragic incident on the Tver attractions. Perhaps because their serviceability is checked annually by the Interregional Technical Commission, which is located in Vladimir and was created at the initiative of the park management. And when “Surprise”, one of the most dangerous rides, was installed in the Tver city garden about 15 years ago, it (perhaps because of the danger) was quickly removed.
CONTROL IS VOLUNTARY
In terms of overseeing the serviceability of attractions, the Tver city garden is an exception. Today in Russia there is neither a structure that carries out technical supervision of attractions, nor common rules their operation. There is only one organization whose members undergo certification and annual testing of park equipment. But joining the association is voluntary. Thus, only the owner controls the health of the mechanisms, and then, if he wants. State bodies not concerned about such things. In addition, unlike other countries, we do not have compulsory insurance for the public having fun on the merry-go-round, therefore, in case of something, there is, in fact, no one to make claims.
It turns out that the life and health of visitors to amusement parks depend only on honesty and professional competence the carousels themselves. Meanwhile, the danger posed by the rides is obvious to everyone. Not in vain last year for the first time in the framework of International Exhibition-Fair"Attractions and entertainment RAPPA-SHOW-2002" worked international seminar Amusement Safety. Having independently estimated the statistics of incidents on domestic attractions, manufacturers and owners of electric swings and slides sounded the alarm.
First of all, concerning the legislation in the field of the entertainment industry. If you follow the old instructions, 90 percent of all attractions in Russia must be closed. And no one has yet adopted new laws, and mandatory documents certifying attractions, even in major cities no.
WITH HEAVY LEGS
However, it's not just that. In Europe and America, the legislation is regulated, the rides are not only more interesting, but also more reliable. However, there are even more accidents and tragedies. In the foreign press, a number of accidents and disasters on attractions and playgrounds are described in sufficient detail. For example, during the entire period of functioning of the California Disneyland, 55 people died in it. In 2002, 9,200 people who were injured on rides turned to doctors in the United States. This is 24 percent more than four years ago.
At a London amusement park in May 2000, a rollercoaster car on great speed fell off the rails and flew 20 meters. A 28-year-old woman died. On the same day, a 13-year-old girl died in the same place due to a faulty carousel. In the spring of 2001, a short circuit occurred in one of the roller coaster cabins in Germany. A fire broke out and 54 people were injured. In July 2002, in Egypt, a young woman died after falling out of the booth of the Tornado ride. In June of this year, one of the carriages derailed in the amusement park of Brest, killing a young woman.
By the way, along with the visitors, the workers of the attractions also suffer. For example, last year a 58-year-old employee of an American amusement park went on the rails of a working attraction. There, he was overtaken by a fatal kick, which a 14-year-old girl stuck out of a trailer that was rushing at a speed of 80 km / h along a roller coaster. The employee died on the spot, and the girl received a slight leg injury. The list of tragedies can be continued for a very long time. In addition to fatal accidents, there are many cases of brain damage caused by roller coasters and roller coasters. According to supporters of limiting progress in this area, the technology and design of such attractions are ahead of scientists' ideas about harmful effects acceleration on human body.
MONEY IS SPINING
It is clear that, no matter how much they talk about the dangers of rides, they will still ride them. The entertainment industry is a gigantic industry with billions of dollars in circulation. Suffice it to say that in the United States its turnover is three times the military budget. The attraction of this business lies in the extremely fast return on investment. As a rule, money invested in children's attractions is returned within one year, in family attractions - in a year or two, extreme - in two or three years, and in the future they already make a profit. In Russia, this industry is just beginning to develop. Today in our country, according to RAAPA, there are 650 functioning parks, of which 30 can be called large. On the acute shortage of places for cultural recreation you don't have to talk to the kids.
However, the misfortune of the Russian entertainment industry is that most of the parks, including the Tver one, are municipally owned and drag out a miserable existence: the rides are old, obsolete and have long been bored by visitors. From municipal park no one wants a profit. Somehow it works, okay. Meanwhile, now the demand for entertainment is actively growing, and parks simply cannot but reckon with the spirit of the times. Private capital rushed into this area - and, as practice shows, more than successfully. True, this primarily concerns the production of attractions. Now in our country, according to RAAPA, more than 160 enterprises are engaged in equipment for amusement parks (one and a half times more than last year), and most of them are small businesses. Among the leading enterprises in the industry, experts name primarily the Mir plant (Moscow), NPP Kulttekhnika-South (Krasnodar), Attraction JSC (Yeisk), NPO Center-8 (Minsk), AirPalace (St. Petersburg). ) and others.
At the end of 2002, the State Duma adopted the Law "On Technical Regulation", which came into force this summer. It is assumed that this law will close access to the Russian market for obsolete, outdated imported attractions, whose share is still very significant in the Russian market. On the one hand, the document clearly stipulates safety requirements, in each industry they should be included in a special technical regulation common to all. On the other hand, complete creative freedom is proclaimed: previously mandatory standards become voluntary, that is, from now on, no one will be able to dictate to the manufacturer what and how to do it. How the law will affect our security is unknown. But in any case, the amusement park will remain an eternal point of attraction for children and their parents. The main thing is that when buying a ticket at the box office of the same "Surprise", people remember that it can be not only pleasant.
As the character of one said famous novel, the trouble is not that a person is mortal, but that he is suddenly mortal. No one is allowed to know the date of their death, and although it can come at any moment, the last thing people expect is that they risk dying while visiting an amusement park - after all, who, going on a fun weekend, thinks about death? But do not forget that the "old woman with a scythe" can hide anywhere - in order to die, it is sometimes enough for a person to slip on the street and bite his tongue, what can we say about the "roller coaster" and other extreme entertainment.
You probably shouldn't remember this compilation every time you go to an amusement park, but once you've beaten the urge to ride the rides, it could save your life.
1. Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
June 9, 1991 was a black day in the history of the Island of Kings amusement park. It all started when one of the visitors fell into a pond located in the park. His friend, 20-year-old William Hayskot and an employee of the "Island", 20-year-old Darrell Robertson tried to save the unfortunate, but in the end all three received an electric shock, which became fatal for Hayskot and Robertson. Just an hour later, another tragedy occurred - 32-year-old Candy Taylor fell from one of the most extreme rides and crashed to death.
Rumor has it that since then the park has been haunted: customers have repeatedly reported seeing a ghostly girl in a blue dress and other strange characters, clearly not from the world of the living. These stories became so popular that the SyFy channel dedicated one of the episodes to the Island. documentary series"Ghostbusters".
2. Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire, Wales
16-year-old Hayley Williams in April 2004, along with her family, arrived at the Oakwood theme park to have fun - no one imagined what a carefree weekend would turn out to be. While riding a roller coaster, Hayley fell out of the cart and fell from a height of 30 meters, receiving injuries incompatible with life.
The investigation found that park staff routinely ignored checks of harnesses and seat belts prior to launching the ride, resulting in Oakwood being fined £250,000 (approximately $384,000) for negligence. After the incident with Hayley, the attraction was closed for a year, and then renamed "Soaked".
3. Action Park, Vernon, New Jersey
The reputation of "Action Park" is hopelessly damaged by several accidents that have occurred here in different years. This is due to various factors: the terrible technical condition of the rides, careless employees and complete absence management control. In the entire history of the park, at least six people have died here, and many have been injured. Among the dead, one was electrocuted, another died of a heart attack, three drowned and another crashed when the cart of one of the attractions on which he was riding derailed.
In 1998, due to numerous health claims, Action Park was closed. A few years later, it was renamed "Mountain Creek" and reopened, providing proper level security and hiring responsible personnel.
4. Discovery Cove, Orlando, Florida
"Bay" is part of " sea world"- a huge theme amusement park where adults and children can literally plunge into the world of marine animals, communicate with tropical fish, and play with dolphins, otters and monkeys.
59-year-old British tourist Keith Clark, who came to swim in the wonderful pools of the park, did not know how it would end for him. Clark suffered from hemophilia (blood clotting), and he managed to cut his leg on a piece of coral. A few days later, Keith's condition deteriorated sharply, he passed out right at the airport before being sent home to the United Kingdom. Clark was taken by special flight to the UK, where doctors did everything possible to save his life, but the man died of sepsis.
5. The Cyclone, Coney Island, New York
Now the amusement park on the Coney Island Peninsula is going through better times: in the 1920s and 1930s, its popularity was much higher, but the famous old rides, including the Cyclone (the world's first "roller coaster", which, by the way, are called "Russian" in some European countries), opened in 1927, and the Wonder Wheel is still in operation. Despite the fact that at the heart of the slides - wooden structure, the attraction quickly won the love of Americans, because they had never seen anything like it. The excitement was fueled by the fact that at the time of the opening of the Cyclone, one trip cost only ¢25 (now you have to pay $9 for pleasure).
The world's first rollercoaster killed at least three people, the last victim of the attraction was 53-year-old Keith Shirasawa, who in 2007 broke his neck on one of the first turns of the attraction
6. Gulliver’s World Theme Park, Warrington, England
For Salma Salim, a 15-year-old girl with Down syndrome, going to the World Park was the last thing she saw in her life: riding the Ferris Wheel - Salma fell from a height of about six meters and later a short time died from a traumatic brain injury.
Later it turned out that the girl was supposed to go with her mother, but the Wheel employees considered her too heavy and put her in a separate booth. Unfortunately, neither Salma nor her mother spoke enough English to explain why the girl should not be left alone.
Apparently, Salim got out of the chair shortly after the start of the trip (although, as the investigation showed, the seat belts were fastened) and fell out of the cab. After the incident, the park was fined a large amount.
7. Six Flags Over Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia
One of the most popular attractions of the Six Flags amusement complex in Georgia, the roller coaster "The Batman: Ride" (can be translated as "Walk with Batman") in 2008 claimed the life of 17-year-old Aisha Lishaw Ferguson. During the trip, Ferguson lost his headgear, hoping to get it, the young man climbed over the fences and got right on the rails, along which at that time another train was rushing at a speed of 80 km / h. The boy died on the spot, thus repeating the fate of the park gardener, who was hit by The Batman: Ride six years before the incident with Ferguson.
8. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville, Kentucky
Batman is not the only superhero whose meeting can end badly for the layman. The Superman Power Tower ride at one of Kentucky's premier amusement parks also caused the death of a customer. The “tower” is one of the most extreme entertainments: first, passengers are thrown up several times, and then they can enjoy the state of free fall for a few seconds.
On June 21, 2007, 13-year-old Caitlin Lesitter bought a ride ticket hoping for a thrill, but she didn't expect The Tower to be her grave.
During Caitlin's flight, one of the cables broke and wrapped around the girl's neck and legs. The young passenger was able to free her neck, but did not have time to do her legs, and when Lassiter reached lowest point flight, they were torn off. Surgeons managed to sew only the girl's left leg, and the "Superman Power Tower" was dismantled.
9. The Big Dipper, Bettersea Fun Fair, London, UK
As part of the 1951 festival dedicated to Great Britain, the Bettersea amusement park organized a fair at which it presented the Big Dipper attraction to the general public - British version"roller coaster". Although the "Medveditsa" was far from the most winding and whimsical "hills" of our time, it was not without casualties.
A little over twenty years after the opening, in 1972, a terrible accident occurred on the attraction: one of the train cars unhooked and rolled into reverse side, as a result of which five underage passengers of the Medveditsa were killed and several were injured. The popularity of the "Fair" among adults and children fell sharply, and in 1974 it ceased to exist.
10. Haunted Castle, Six Flags Big Adventure, Jackson, NJ
The "castle" was a typical "panic room": visitors walked around the dark rooms, where they were frightened by ghosts and monsters. Many of them were convincing enough, but the guests of the Haunted Castle experienced the real horror on May 11, 1984, when a fire started in the attraction building.
Most of the thrill-seekers managed to get out, escaping with burns and carbon monoxide poisoning, but eight teenagers remained in the "Castle" forever. All exits from the attraction were blocked, as a result of which young people were burned alive. Their bodies were so mutilated that relatives were able to identify the dead only by the impressions of their teeth.
During the investigation, it turned out that elementary norms were not observed in the "Castle" fire safety, for example, there were no smoke detectors and an automatic fire extinguishing system. Six Flags sued to have the attraction recognized as a temporary structure, and its management managed to avoid liability.
11. Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia
Unlike other stories in this collection, the incident that happened to the Italian fashion model and model Fabio is not tragic, but rather comical.
During the opening of the Busch Gardens amusement park, the Italian was invited to one of the first rides on the new Apollo Chariot attraction, and while Fabio was enjoying the ride, a goose flying over the attraction crashed into his head.
The fashion model was immediately provided with all the necessary medical care(his nose was damaged), and, unfortunately, history is silent about the fate of the bird.
Matterhorn Bobsled, Disneyland, Anaheim, California
The Matterhorn Bobsled, a steel roller coaster modeled after the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps, was the site of Disneyland's first fatality in 1964, when a 15-year-old boy was injured after standing up in the trailer and falling. He died three days later as a result of his injuries.
Rolling Thunder, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey The 20-year-old park worker died in 1981 during a test ride on the Rolling Thunder, a wooden roller coaster. According to the conclusion, the employee most likely buckled up incorrectly, but the exact cause of the tragedy remained unknown, since no one saw exactly how the young man fell from the slides.
Big Dipper, Battersea Park, London, UK The Big Dipper, a wooden rollercoaster in Battersea Park, London, has been the cause of one of the most tragic accidents in amusement park history. In May 1972, a train that was climbing to the top of the ride broke free of its towline and rolled back into another car. As a result of the accident, five children died and 13 received various injuries.
Hydro, Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire, Wales In April 2004, a 16-year-old girl died from internal injuries sustained in a 100-foot fall from the top of the Hydro in Oakwood, Wales. It was later discovered that the ride's workers had not checked the girl's harnesses and safety bar.
Ride of Steel, Darien Lake, Darien, New York In July 2011, Iraq War veteran James Hackemer, who lost both of his legs in a bombing raid, died in a fall from Steel Hill at Darien Lake Amusement Park in New York. The attraction was closed, but soon reopened, as the operator of the attraction was to blame for the death. Hackemaker could not be allowed on the slides due to his physical condition.
Cyclone, Coney Island, New York Built in 1927, the Cyclone attraction is one of the most unsuccessful in the United States. So far, three people have died on these slides. In May 1985, a 29-year-old man died after standing up and hitting his head on a crossbar. Just three years later, a 26-year-old man died after falling from the Cyclone, and in July 2007, a 53-year-old man broke his neck during a trip and died in hospital a few days later.
Gauntlet, Camelot Theme Park, Lancashire, UK On October 22, 2001, a 59-year-old Camelot amusement park worker died from a stroke while he was repairing the attraction. The park was then fined £40,000 for lack of safety regulations. In November 2012, the park was closed.
Flight Commander, Kings Island, Mason, Ohio A 32-year-old woman fell off the Flight Commander ride at Kings Island Amusement Park and died from her injuries on June 9, 1991. Surprisingly, just an hour before this accident, two people died in the same park after receiving an electric shock while trying to save a man who fell into the park's pond.
The Rat, Loudoun Castle Amusement Park, Galston, Scotland In July 2007, an 18-year-old park employee fell to his death after falling 24 meters from the Rat ride at Ludan Castle Amusement Park. He was reportedly at the park on his day off when he saw one of the ride's trailers stuck. Then he climbed up to fix the trailer, he was dragged all the way high point hills, where he could not resist and fell.
Texas Giant, Six Flags Over Texas Park, Arlington, Texas In July 2013, a 52-year-old woman died after falling 23 meters off the Texas Giant roller coaster at the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park. The woman, who may not have been well strapped in, fell out of the trailer and hit a support beam.
Alpine Slide, Action Park, Vernon, New Jersey Action Park, sometimes also called Accident Park, is one of the most dangerous amusement parks in the world. In July 1980, a park employee was driving down Alpine Hill when his trailer bounced and hit his head on a rock, causing him to later die. However, the park's most intimidating attraction is the infamous Tidal Wave Pool, where several people have already drowned.
Fujin Raijin II, Expoland, Osaka, Japan In May 2007, the Expoland amusement park in Osaka, Japan was the site of one of the worst accidents in amusement park history. Six Fujin-Raijin II cars derailed and collided with a guardrail after one of the car's wheel axle broke. As a result of the accident, one woman died, and another 19 people were seriously injured.
Batman, Six Flags Over Georgia, Cobb County, Georgia In June 2008, a 17-year-old boy was beheaded by a passing carriage after he climbed over two fences and entered a restricted area to retrieve his cap. Six years earlier, a similar incident occurred on the same ride after a man violated the rules of the ride and was kicked by a passing passenger.
Black Witch, Magic Harbor, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Once a thriving amusement park and popular South Carolina getaway, Magic Harbor was the site of tragedy in 1983. A 13-year-old girl was almost decapitated after she stood up in the Black Witch ride. Shortly after her death, the park was completely closed.
"Puff is a little fiery dragon" (Puff The Little Fire Dragon, Laguna, Farmington, Utah Despite being one of the park's slowest and safest rides, Puff the Little Fire Dragon took the life of a 6-year-old boy in 1989. The boy slipped out of his seat belts, falling through the tracks and after he tried to climb back, the same trailer came back and hit him on the head, resulting in the child's death.
Superman Tower of Power, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville, Kentucky In June 2007, the cables of the Superman Power Tower broke, hitting a group of young girls. One of the girls got tangled in the cables and while the trailer was falling, they cut off her legs. The attraction was closed immediately after the accident and soon completely removed from the park.
Mindbender, Galaxyland, Edmonton, Canada The largest three-loop indoor roller coaster, The Hallucinogen, is also home to one of the biggest accidents in amusement park history. In June 1984, missing valves in the wheel of the last car caused the entire train to derail. The last car began to wobble violently, colliding with supporting structures and throwing passengers against a concrete column. Three people from this trailer died.
« Space trip» (Space Journey), East Overseas Chinese Town, Shenzhen, China Space Journey, located in Shenzhen, was an attraction in which trailers circled inside a ball-shaped screen showing films about space. However, in June 2010, one of the wagons unhooked and the entire dome began to move randomly. After that, a fire started in the attraction, while there were still 40 people there. Six of them died, and ten people were seriously injured.
Ferris Wheel, Gulliver´s World Theme Park, Warrington, UK In July 2002, a 15-year-old girl with Down syndrome died after she climbed out of her chair and fell off a ferris wheel at Gulliver Amusement Park in England. During the investigation, it was discovered that she wanted to share a booth with her mother, but the park staff refused, stating that her mother was too big and needed a separate booth.
The Xtreme Racer, Legoland Billund, Billund, Denmark On April 29, 2007, a 21-year-old park employee was killed by an Extreme Racer after she climbed over a fence to retrieve a park visitor's wallet. The attraction was closed for a short time, but was soon reopened and is still in operation.
Ragin Cajun, Six Flags America, Upper Marlboro, Maryland On May 29, 2004, a 52-year-old mechanic from Zion, Illinois was killed by a Furious Kaijun rollercoaster at Six Flags America in Maryland while he was trying to cross the tracks. After sustaining a head injury, the man died at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee shortly after the accident.
Colossus, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California Once the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, the Colossus caused the death of a 20-year-old girl in 1978 when she fell out of a trailer. The crossbar was properly fixed, but due to the girl's obesity, it turned out to be ineffective. This accident caused the attraction to close for one year until the trailers were refurbished.
Wildcat, Bell's Amusement Park, Tulsa, Oklahoma One of the main rides at Bell's Amusement Park in Oklahoma, the Wild Cat, was the site of a fatal accident in April 1997, when a breakdown caused a trailer near the top of the hill to roll backwards, colliding with another trailer. The accident killed a 14-year-old boy and injured six people.
Inferno, Terra Mitica, Benidorm, Spain In July 2014, an 18-year-old from Iceland was thrown out of his seat at Terra Mitica amusement park in Spain. The unfortunate guy died in an ambulance shortly after the accident. An investigation showed that the boy's seat belts were unfastened, but the reason for this was never determined.
"Vampire" (Le Vampire), La Ronde (La Ronde), Quebec, Canada On July 6, 2012, the Vampire roller coaster at La Ronda amusement park caused the death of a 67-year-old park employee who was found under the ride in restricted area with a head injury. Park officials said an employee was hit by one of the ride's trailers. The man was already dead when he was found.
