(ConservativeSense.com) – An Arizona mom described how a trip to SeaWorld in San Diego almost became a nightmare. Salina Higgins and her daughter opted to ride the Electric Eel roller coaster, and when it got to the first “upside-down part,” her daughter’s shoulder harness gave way and dangled in front of her. The panicked mother took the strap and held it in place until the ride ended. Higgins described the remainder as “the longest 47 seconds of my life.”
When the ride ended, Ms. Higgins told an attendant what had happened but felt her concerns were not taken seriously, so she escalated the matter to senior staff. The attendant reportedly told her she should read the signs before taking the ride, but Higgins told reporters that they contradicted each other.
For instance, one sign stated that customers must “remain seated with the comfort collar secured at all times,” while another declared that the straps were for “comfort only.” Higgins argued with staff until security escorted her out of the park. “This was gross negligence by SeaWorld,” she said, adding that more passengers were allowed on the ride immediately afterward and without safety checks.
Ms. Higgins posted a video to social media explaining the experience, and it went viral. Some viewers noted that it was not the first time the Electric Eel in San Diego had been the subject of safety concerns.
Last year, the ride was closed after a passenger sustained a leg injury. As officials told reporters that an investigation could take several months, few details were made available. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) said it would conduct an examination involving engineering analysis, documentation review, and staff interviews.
Following the recent incident, SeaWorld offered Higgins $1,000 in compensation, but she turned it down. Cal/OSHA is investigating. SeaWorld insisted that the lap and shin bar are the only compulsory restraining devices on the Electric Eel and that both are secure on all carriages.
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