Seatbelt Comes Undone During Ride at US Amusement Park
Couple in Front Prevents Disaster with Desperate Help
A teenage girl riding a roller coaster that reached a top speed of 120 km/h at a theme park in the United States narrowly avoided a major accident when her seatbelt came undone during the ride, thanks to the desperate help of a couple seated in front of her.
According to foreign media outlets such as the Daily Mail on November 4 (local time), the incident occurred on October 11 at the Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, when the seatbelt of a teenage girl came undone while riding the park’s signature roller coaster, "Mamba."
A girl whose seatbelt came undone while riding a roller coaster at an American amusement park narrowly avoided a serious accident with the help of a couple in the front seat. Daily Mail
Chris and Cassie Evans, the couple seated in front of the girl at the time of the incident, said, "We still can’t forget that moment," and added, "As we were climbing the first hill, 60 meters high, we heard a blood-curdling scream from behind us. At first, we thought she was just scared, but when we heard her say, 'My belt came undone,' we realized how serious the situation was."
When they turned around, they saw a large gap between the girl’s waist and the safety bar, and her seatbelt was unfastened. Chris immediately reached his arm under the safety bar and held tightly onto the girl’s wrist, while his wife Cassie pressed down on her legs to keep her from being thrown from the seat. The Evans couple, who are regular riders with annual passes, said they were familiar with the upcoming steep drops and turns, so they quickly shifted to a protective position to hold her down.
Chris said, "The thought that she could be thrown out of her seat made me grip so hard that my arms and shoulders went numb," and added, "All I could think was, 'Just hold on until the end.'" Thanks to their help, the girl was able to complete the roughly two-minute ride safely.
A Two-Minute Struggle... Dramatic Moment Captured on Camera
The ride’s onboard camera captured the most dangerous moment. In the photo, the terrified couple can be seen reaching back to hold onto the girl, while the girl, her head bowed, endures the ordeal with a frightened expression.
After the ride, the Evans couple immediately reported the incident to park staff. The Worlds of Fun management stated, "Mamba is designed with a dual system of a primary safety bar and a secondary seatbelt, and a thorough inspection revealed no mechanical defects."
However, a subsequent investigation by the Missouri Department of Public Safety did find some defects. Mike O’Connell, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said, "During an additional inspection on October 30, we confirmed cases where the seatbelts on some seats did not function properly."
In response, the park stated, "We have re-inspected all safety devices and completed the necessary corrective measures in accordance with the authorities’ recommendations," and added, "Currently, the ride is operating in full compliance with all safety standards."
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