A man has died after falling from a theme park ride in the US, with his son seated beside him as the tragedy unfolded. Several people were left injured and covered in blood before the park was evacuated.
The incident occurred at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday after a man plunged from the Goliath ride, reportedly smashing against the cart multiple times as he fell. The Cobb County Police Department said several people were injured in the ordeal. It is believed that the man's son sat beside him when he plunged from the cart.
Witness describes fall
One witness told 11Alive news outlet: "He fell and hit the car three different times." The witness said the victim hit a girl two rows in front, "smashing" down right as the ride's camera snapped a photo. "He was in our pictures," the witness added.
Officials are yet to confirm how the man died, and the cause of the incident is not yet known. Others on the rollercoaster were stuck at an incline as evacuation attempts began at around 5pm local time. They were evacuated in groups of four, while others remained stuck in the middle.
Park response and ride details
A spokesperson for the theme park confirmed the event, telling Entertainment Weekly: "We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones. The park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation. Out of respect for the family's privacy, we will not be sharing additional details at this time."
The park had been closed just a day earlier due to bad weather. A park spokesperson said: "Due to weather conditions, Six Flags Over Georgia will be closed Saturday, October 10. The safety of our guests and team members is always a top priority. We're planning to reopen Sunday, October 11, and will continue to keep a close eye on conditions."
The Goliath ride, which opened in 2006, stands at 200ft tall and reaches speeds of up to 70mph. The incident follows the shutdown of a controversial ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, after more than 100 safety complaints. The X2 roller coaster is being demolished after nearly 20 years.
