Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[HopperFan]

Do we know what the underlying condition was?

In photos he was in a wheelchair. His legs seem to be "underdeveloped" but his upper body looked like he worked out. COD was not any underlying condition .... and as others have stated many pass out on coasters. I've seen it, and it should not have resulted in this.

 

[fatmanatee]

Incident report just posted on wesh.com, says he had a pre-existing spinal injury and was on medication.

EDIT: here's the link. https://www.wesh.com/article/calls-incident-report-unresponsive-man-dies-epic-universe-ride/67968346

 

[JLTraveling]

I can't imagine that passing out on the coaster would have caused this. If it did, that's a seriously dangerous design flaw. I was sitting right next to my uncle when he briefly passed out on Expedition Everest (I think his was anxiety, he's a scaredy cat and he was fine again by the time we got back to the station). He bounced around a little, but nothing remotely unsafe.

 

[Opie100]

I can't imagine that passing out on the coaster would have caused this. If it did, that's a seriously dangerous design flaw. I was sitting right next to my uncle when he briefly passed out on Expedition Everest (I think his was anxiety, he's a scaredy cat and he was fine again by the time we got back to the station). He bounced around a little, but nothing remotely unsafe.

Not sure. But this is a vastly more physical coaster. And much of the EE action is backwards against the seat. It would be interesting to see how rides are tested for a passed out guest.

 

[JLTraveling]

Not sure. But this is a vastly more physical coaster. And much of the EE action is backwards against the seat. It would be interesting to see how rides are tested for a passed out guest.

Wouldn't test dummies show potential impacts? They can't exactly hold on. I don't know, it's just such a weird situation.

 

[JLTraveling]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1YP8w5wqC7/
An interesting FB thread from way before this accident with people sharing stories of passing out on roller coasters. None of them were injured, let alone passed away.

 

[Opie100]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1YP8w5wqC7/
An interesting FB thread from way before this accident with people sharing stories of passing out on roller coasters. None of them were injured, let alone passed away.

Any at this speed and torque that didn't have shoulder harnesses?

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Do we know what the underlying condition was?

Reports are that he was using a wheelchair but I haven’t seen more info than that.

 

[JLTraveling]

I

Any at this speed and torque that didn't have shoulder harnesses?

I have no idea. I've never been to Cedar Point, which is where most of the stories are from.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

It would be interesting to see how rides are tested for a passed out guest.

They are tested thoroughly with dummies. Passing out is very common on roller coasters. They are all designed for it.

 

[Dznefreek]

GMA just reported that his girl friend said he had an underlying spinal condition and was taking medication.
Why would you get on a a coaster with a spinal condition?

 

[JLTraveling]

GMA just reported that his girl friend said he had an underlying spinal condition and was taking medication.
Why would you get on a a coaster with a spinal condition?

Because "spinal condition" is a gigantic category, not a diagnosis. My dad has a "spinal condition," and has been 100% cleared by his specialist for all rides including roller coasters. Worst that will happen to him is a backache. There is zero evidence at this point to conclude that the victim's "spinal condition" led to his demise.

 

[Dznefreek]

Funny I don't see where I said that lead to his demise.

 

[glamdring269]

Wouldn't test dummies show potential impacts? They can't exactly hold on. I don't know, it's just such a weird situation.

I was actually wondering the same thing. This seems like such a basic thing that one would test for.

 

[JLTraveling]

Funny I don't see where I said that lead to his demise.

Sorry for making assumptions. You wanted to know why someone with a spinal condition would get on a coaster. It seemed to be in reference to the recent roller coaster death, given that the person with the spinal condition who got on the coaster died. So I was simply giving an example of why someone with a spinal condition might choose to get on a roller coaster and following up with a comment on the larger discussion, which is that we don't have any reason to believe at this moment that boarding a coaster with a spinal condition caused his death.

 

[Lewisc]

I read on the internet that was the 6th time he rode Stardust same day

 

[HopperFan]

Not going to quote anyone but in this situation we know nothing until the final report is released because there are simply more questions than answers. Ever changing story.

• He might have been dead on site. It is common knowledge that theme parks want no one declared on property so they move them as quickly as possible to a hospital for that.
• We know the man is in a wheelchair from a spinal “accident” but that does not mean that folks in wheelchairs should not be allowed to ride roller coasters.
• It has been reported he is taking medication – so is half the world. Until we know what kind of medication and it’s impact that is a non-issue.
• We need to stop assuming it was an underlying condition – the autopsy alone seems to eliminate that. If that were primary COD it would be stated, maybe even say “natural causes”. They didn’t even include it as a secondary cause at this point.
• BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA is a serious COD and this will be a big investigation, and primarily in to the ride system. We don’t even know where the trauma occurred, people are just guessing. All I’ve seen from witnesses is “he was slumped” “there was blood”.

“Dennis Speigel, CEO and founder of consulting firm International Theme Park Services, called the autopsy’s conclusion “pretty shocking,” and he said it raised more questions than it answered. Was it the head or the chest? Was he banging around? Was he in his seat properly?” Speigel said. “Was it an accident caused by the ride or him doing something?”

It may well boil down to the perfect storm of freak accidents BUT it could also lead to a large lawsuit and changes to big coaster restraints and rider requirements.

 

[greeneyedchick]

I saw a comment from another site made by someone claiming to be a doctor. It said

"This is a sad case; spinal cord injured wheel-chair bound patients commonly have vasomotor deconditioning & cannot quickly adjust their hemodynamics to g-force changes. Blood pooling is common. Add to that very rapid unchecked shifts in body position consequent to his paraplegic or paraparetic state, and the substrate for blunt force soft tissue trauma is there as well."

That was the most enlightening explanation that I have seen so far. Still doesn't quite explain how he could have gotten more banged up than test dummies. But to be fair, I was trying to picture myself on a rollercoaster with that kind of restraint system and how it would go if I didn't try to hold my body upright at all. I think I would have major whiplash at the very least. I'm am shocked that there is no upper body restraints.

 

[GhostHost24]

The restraint system is still pretty safe. The company that built the coaster has an excellent track record with safety and they have several coasters with this type of seat

 

[greeneyedchick]

The restraint system is still pretty safe. The company that built the coaster has an excellent track record with safety and they have several coasters with this type of seat

Good to know.