Man dies following 'tragic event' on rollercoaster at Orlando's Universal theme park
A man at one of the newest amusement parks in the US has died after riding a rollercoaster, Florida authorities said.
The man in his 30s was found unresponsive after riding the rollercoaster at Universal Epic Universe on Wednesday (September 17), the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Why the man fell unconscious hasn't been revealed.
Universal Orlando Resorts only opened the park in May and it is thought to have cost a staggering $7 billion to build.
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It has five themed sections and a 500-room hotel. It marks the first major, traditional theme park to open in Florida since 1999, when Universal Islands of Adventure debuted, though Universal opened a themed Orlando water park, Volcano Bay, in 2017.
The park has issued a statement in the wake of the man's unexpected passing.
"Universal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night," it said, as per The Independent.
"The guest became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and was transported to the hospital, where the guest later died. We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones.
"We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed."
Universal Studios Orlando first opened its doors back in 1990. Both a working studio and an entertainment complex, made up of Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay, it welcomes 10,000,000 visitors a year.
It was announced back in 2019 that it would be adding a fourth park, claiming to be the 'most immersive and innovative' theme park the company had ever created.
Epic Universe has since become the first major theme park to come to Orlando in 25 years and officially opened its doors on May 22 of this year.
The park boasts 11 new rides, including the Stardust Racers where Wednesday's tragedy unfolded.
The ride is described as, per the Universal website: "Share a race across the cosmos on Stardust Racers, a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph.
"Board a comet and rocket to the furthest reaches of the stars, at heights up to 133 feet along 5000 feet of track. Race along an inverted crisscross, known as the 'Celestial Spin' in a dazzling display of blazing colours and ethereal music."
The ride is expected to remain closed until law enforcement finishes the investigation.
Niamh Shackleton