In a distressing incident at Fun Spot America amusement park in Kissimmee, Florida, a 6-year-old child was found injured under a roller coaster track. The Osceola County Fire Rescue team responded to the incident after receiving a report of a child falling from a roller coaster.
The child was found beneath the coaster’s track, 20 feet overhead, and was quickly rushed to the hospital after suffering traumatic injuries. The child is currently in the recovery phase.
Visitor Neverlyn Johnson expressed her shock at the incident and concern about the safety of amusement park rides. “It’s been happening. People being stuck. The rides being cracked and damaged, and people falling off … it’s unbelievable,” Johnson commented.
On the day following the incident, Fun Spot released a statement claiming that all safety procedures had been followed prior to the incident occurring. The statement reads, “On Thursday, August 3rd, 2023, an unfortunate incident happened on the Galaxy Spin Roller Coaster that resulted in a child being injured.”
The amusement park is collaborating with the Florida Department of Agriculture and the ride’s manufacturer to investigate the incident. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspected the ride and found it in normal operating condition with no mechanical issues. They also confirmed that the ride was operated following all safety procedures and guidelines outlined by the manufacturer and industry standards.
The ride is currently shut down while the investigation is ongoing, and Fun Spot America has vowed not to reopen it until they are “100% sure this will not happen again.”