ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orange County woman is suing SeaWorld after she was allegedly hit in the face by a duck while riding one of the park’s roller coasters earlier this year.
What the Lawsuit Alleges:
According to the complaint filed Monday, Hillary R. Martin visited the park on March 24. During her visit, she was riding the Mako coaster when a “duck flew into the path of the roller coaster,” striking her face and knocking her unconscious.
The complaint says SeaWorld failed to keep its premises in a “reasonably safe condition” and that it did not warn visitors about any dangerous conditions at the park.
The complaint also alleges that SeaWorld created “a zone of danger” for bird strikes by operating a high-speed coaster near a body of water and designing a ride that disorients waterfowl, increasing the risk of collision.
Mako roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando
Martin, who is represented by Morgan & Morgan, is seeking more than $50,000 in damages. The complaint says she suffered permanent physical injuries, disfigurement, and mental pain and suffering. She also incurred medical expenses, according to the filing.
Martin is seeking a trial by jury.
The incident was not listed in the quarterly report from Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which requires the major Florida theme parks to report serious visitor injuries that lead to a hospital stay of 24 hours or more.
What they’re saying:
SeaWorld released the following statement in response to the lawsuit.
“The safety of our guests and employees is a top priority and we take these situations seriously. We will not be commenting beyond that as this is pending litigation.”
John Morgan, of Morgan & Morgan, also released a statement.
“SeaWorld knew or should have known of this dangerous condition, as this was not the first reported bird collision to occur on one of their roller coasters this year. SeaWorld allegedly dangerously positioned a high-speed coaster over a man-made lake teeming with birds. We’re here to get justice for our client and ensure this allegedly dangerous design is fixed, permanently.”
Previous Mako incidents?:
Mako has been the subject of lawsuits involving flying objects before. Last month, a Hillsborough family filed a lawsuit alleging that their child was hit in the face by an object while riding the Mako coaster in March.
About the coaster
Mako is a hyper coaster that reaches speeds of up to 73 mph and heights of up to 200 feet. It opened at SeaWorld Orlando in 2016.
The ride is one of 8 coasters at SeaWorld, which bills itself as the “Coaster Capital of Orlando.”
SeaWorld’s parent company, United Parks & Resorts, owns and operates several parks across the country, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Adventure Island, SeaWorld San Antonio, and SeaWorld San Diego.
The Source: The information in this article is from the complaint filed on Oct. 27, 2025, in Orange County.