Incidents at United Parks & Resorts

United Parks & Resorts

Industry	Amusement parks, water parks, theme parks
Area served	Various locations in the United States

This overview presents significant occurrences at various United Parks & Resorts-owned amusement parks, water parks, and theme parks. It emphasizes incidents that notably affected park operations or attracted media attention.

Incidents encompass serious accidents, injuries, or fatalities at SeaWorld Parks locations, generally classified as:

1. Guest error, including disregarding safety guidelines or breaching park regulations.
2. Health-related issues of guests, whether known or unknown.
3. Operator or maintenance lapses by the park staff.
4. Natural events or miscellaneous accidents not linked to specific actions.

Key West Rapids

• On September 10, 2011, a 21-year-old lifeguard tragically died after being struck by lightning while evacuating guests from the Key West Rapids ride tower amid severe weather conditions. No visitors were injured. Following this event, the park implemented a weather alert system.

Roa's Rapids

• On October 4, 2010, a 68-year-old male visitor from Manchester, England was discovered unresponsive in Roa's Rapids and was later declared deceased; initial reports suggested natural causes.
• On July 15, 2017, a 58-year-old man from Savannah, Georgia was found unconscious on Roa's Rapids and passed away the next day; he had a prior history of medical issues.

Wahalla Wave

• On July 1, 2018, a female guest was found unresponsive following her ride on the Wahalla Wave water slide. Lifeguards performed CPR before she was transported to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital.

Big Surf Shores

• On August 1, 2019, a 33-year-old man experienced cardiac arrest in the wave pool area. Emergency medical services took him to Christus Santa Rosa Westover Hills hospital where he subsequently died.

Cheetah Hunt

• On February 13, 2014, a technical malfunction caused the ride to halt shortly after dispatching, leaving 16 riders stranded approximately in midair for an hour. All passengers were safely evacuated without injury.

Edge of Africa

• On May 12, 2002, a zookeeper lost her arm after being bitten by a lion during a behind-the-scenes tour. Investigations revealed she likely placed her hand through a gap contrary to safety protocols. The incident did not disrupt park operations or affect visitors.

Jungala

• On July 1, 2016, an orangutan escaped its enclosure into the Stanleyville zone, triggering lockdowns and evacuations. This marked the second orangutan escape within one month at Jungala.

Gwazi

• On July 24, 2006, a 52-year-old man from Palm Harbor, Florida died shortly after riding Gwazi due to pre-existing health conditions. The attraction was closed for one hour to verify its proper operation.

Kumba

• On June 10, 1995, a 13-year-old girl from Pinellas Park, Florida passed away following her ride on Kumba due to a rare cardiac condition. Her mother filed a lawsuit against the park and was awarded $350,000 after the jury concluded both parties shared responsibility.
• On December 29, 1996, a Kumba train stopped approximately 100 feet above ground and riders were evacuated; five individuals were hospitalized with back pain.

Montu

• On May 24, 2000, a 30-year-old male with a known heart condition suffered a fatal heart attack after experiencing the Montu ride.

Other incidents involving guests

• On July 4, 2018, a 36-year-old man from Florahome, Florida, was injured by a bullet fired during Independence Day celebrations. He was transported by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Python

• Shortly after Python's debut in 1976, a 39-year-old man lost his life following the ride. Subsequently, the coaster's former slogan, "I challenged the Python and lived!", was discontinued.

Rhino Rally

• On June 27, 2001, a vehicle from Rhino Rally overturned during operation, resulting in minor injuries to several passengers; two individuals required hospitalization.

Scorpion

• In December 1994, legal action was initiated alleging that a promotional model portraying a family member was compelled to continue riding Scorpion despite feeling unwell. The complaint cited false imprisonment and negligence, seeking $15,000 in damages. The case was dismissed in 1997.

SheiKra

• On October 15, 2005, passengers were trapped on the holding brake for nearly an hour due to a malfunction in the ride’s air compressor system before being rescued.
• On May 12, 2016, a mechanical failure halted the ride, leaving 24 individuals suspended in the air for up to two hours. All riders were evacuated safely without injuries. SheiKra resumed operation four days afterward.

Skyride

• On July 18, 2009, Maikon Bonani, a 20-year-old employee and football kicker, fell approximately while checking a gondola door closure and was carried along the ride for about . No guests were harmed; Bonani was hospitalized.

Apollo's Chariot

• Actor Fabio Lanzoni suffered a minor nasal injury on March 27, 1999, after being hit by a stray goose on the ride’s opening day.
• On July 15, 2018, a family from Virginia Beach experienced concussions when an operator unintentionally activated the emergency stop button.

Big Bad Wolf

• The ride was temporarily shut down on August 2, 1984, after a coaster car fell from its storage track during maintenance. No injuries occurred; however, the car’s fiberglass front sustained minor damage.
• A fatal accident occurred on May 2, 1993, when a 63-year-old worker was struck by the suspended roller coaster while attempting to uncover a track-mounted camera.
• On March 1, 2003, a contractor painting Big Bad Wolf died after a high-reach vehicle overturned. Emergency personnel confirmed the fatality upon arrival.

Busch Gardens Railway

• A fire erupted on August 16, 2018, at the Caribou Train Station near InvadR and Le Scoot Log Flume in New France. One employee suffered minor injuries and was treated as a precaution.

Eagle One Monorail

• On August 11, 1990, a mother threw her four-month-old infant onto the monorail tracks at the Anheuser-Busch Hospitality Center station. The baby fell roughly 8 feet but survived with head injuries following prompt medical care. The mother claimed the infant slipped but was charged with child endangerment alongside the father after investigation.

Escape from Pompeii

• A small fire ignited on July 21, 2018, around 8:15 p.m. atop the attraction’s roof while the ride was not operating. Firefighters quickly extinguished it and the ride reopened several days later.

Griffon

• On August 5, 2010, strong winds caused a deflating 14-foot inflatable prop to blow into one of Griffon’s trains, injuring five guests who were treated and released shortly thereafter. Despite an approaching storm with nearby lightning, Griffon remained open while some older attractions began closing.

Loch Ness Monster

• On June 13, 1989, a train traveling at approximately 15 mph struck a tree that had been blown onto the tracks during a storm, resulting in injuries to five passengers. Among them, a 16-year-old sustained a broken leg, while the others experienced minor harm. Despite the accident, operators continued running empty trains until the final passenger train completed its route. The train involved suffered extensive damage.
• On June 3, 1993, two riders reported temporary blindness and distress caused by the ride’s misting water feature. After investigation, the park confirmed that only water was sprayed and subsequently discontinued the misting effect.

Pantheon

• On October 24, 2019, during construction work on Pantheon, an employee was injured and airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for treatment.

Roman Rapids

• On July 10, 1991, a female guest sustained a knee injury after slipping from the ride platform into a raft.
• On July 26, 1991, another woman broke her wrist when she slipped off the observation deck following rainfall. At that time, no signage warned visitors about slippery conditions when the ride resumed operations.

Tempesto

• On June 29, 2015, a 17-year-old rider experienced loosening of their shoulder collar during the ride. Tempesto was temporarily closed for inspection, with park officials clarifying that the collar was installed for comfort purposes only and not as a safety restraint.

Discovery Cove

• On January 29, 2009, a 59-year-old hemophiliac man from England died after cutting his toe on coral while swimming. He developed septic shock leading to organ failure; the coroner ruled the death accidental due to sepsis complications.
• On August 16, 2011, lightning struck within Discovery Cove, injuring eight individuals—three guests and five staff members. All were hospitalized as a precautionary measure and discharged the following day.
• In 2024, three separate incidents occurred where guests were found unresponsive in resort pools: a 13-year-old girl on May 28, a 51-year-old man on July 8, and a man in his sixties on August 31. Each was transported to medical facilities but later passed away.

Baywatch Ski Show

• On August 17, 1996, mechanical failure caused an 18-foot motorboat from the Baywatch Ski Show to crash into an audience of approximately 4,000 spectators. Twenty-two people ranging from ages two to seventy-eight were injured; four sustained critical injuries.

Parking lot

• On June 24, 2018, a five-year-old girl was fatally struck by a pickup truck in SeaWorld San Antonio’s parking lot while exiting the park.

Bayside Skyride

• On February 18, 2019, sixteen guests became stranded on five gondolas for over four hours after strong winds triggered the ride’s circuit breaker.

Guest altercations

• On October 11, 1979, during an altercation with a visitor, a security guard discharged a firearm and wounded the individual. The shooting was later ruled justified.

Tilikum

• On July 6, 1999, a man was discovered deceased in Tilikum’s orca tank. The cause of death was drowning accompanied by trauma; injuries included puncture wounds and abrasions. The individual had bypassed security measures to access the tank.
• On February 24, 2010, trainer Dawn Brancheau died after being pulled into the water by Tilikum during a post-performance interaction. The autopsy determined drowning and traumatic injuries as causes of death. This incident marked Tilikum’s third involvement in human fatalities. Following this event, SeaWorld resumed whale shows with enhanced safety protocols and consultations from external experts.
• On August 23, 2010, OSHA imposed a $75,000 fine on SeaWorld for three violations linked to Brancheau’s death, including one classified as "willful." SeaWorld disputed these findings. Later hearings revealed prior incidents had been concealed. In May 2012, an OSHA judge levied an additional $12,000 penalty against SeaWorld for two violations related to the trainer’s fatality.

Expedition Odyssey

On May 1, 2025, during a preview event preceding the official launch of the Expedition Odyssey attraction, the letter "O" from the entrance signage detached and struck a female visitor. Following this occurrence, the remaining portion of the entrance sign was removed.

Sesame Place (Pennsylvania)

• On July 5, 2018, Sesame Place closed ahead of schedule due to a water main rupture in Middletown Township, which temporarily impacted several local businesses. The park resumed operations two days later.
• On August 9, 2020, a 17-year-old staff member was attacked after enforcing the park’s COVID-19 mask mandate. The employee suffered severe injuries that necessitated surgery and hospitalization. The perpetrators were identified, faced charges, and received permanent bans from all SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment locations.
• In July 2022, Sesame Place encountered public criticism after an African American family alleged that the character Rosita ignored their children. The incident gained widespread attention online and sparked boycott demands. The park explained that limited visibility inside the costume affected the performer and emphasized that no deliberate disrespect occurred. Sesame Place issued an official apology, invited the family for a meet-and-greet session, and pledged to implement racial bias training for staff to foster a more inclusive environment.

Surfer's Bay

• On August 6, 1996, a 39-year-old man was hit by a stray bullet while in the wave pool area. He was promptly given first aid on-site and subsequently hospitalized, eventually making a full recovery.

See also

• Blackfish
• Amusement park accidents