The latest quarterly injury report from Florida’s theme parks includes the September death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, whose autopsy pointed to “multiple blunt impact injuries” when he was found unconscious after riding Stardust Racers, a roller coaster at Epic Universe.
The Zavala case is listed, without elaboration, as the fatality of a 32-year-old man. It is one of seven injuries reported for Universal Orlando parks in the July-September period.
The state’s major theme parks self-report about visitors who are injured on rides if they result in at least 24 hours of hospitalization. The totals are made public through an agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The reports are thin on details for the incidents. The state does not receive health updates after the initial assessments, and the names of the injured are not released.
Four other coaster-related injuries were listed for Universal, including two on the Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure. On July 22, a 66-year-old man had chest pain after the ride, and on Aug. 20, a 56-year-old male had a headache after riding Hulk, the report says.
The Incredible Hulk coaster at Islands of Adventure was listed twice in the quarterly theme park injury report. (Orlando Sentinel file)
On July 5, a 40-year-old female had “an altered level of consciousness” after being on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure coaster at IOA. On Aug. 24, a 32-year-old female reported neck pain and motion sickness from Revenge of the Mummy, a coaster at Universal Studios.
On Sept. 29, a 78-year-old female experienced dizziness after being aboard Hogwarts Express, the train-themed attraction that connects two sides of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions at IOA and Universal Studios.
A 38-year-old woman had neck pain after riding Krakatau Aqua Coaster at Volcano Bay water park on Aug. 4.
There were no reports beyond the Zavala death for Stardust Racers or other Epic Universe attractions in the most recent quarter, although two were recorded for the coaster in June. Epic Universe opened to the public in late May.
Universal executives said said the company review found that Stardust Racers functioned properly and that its employees followed procedures correctly. State officials observed testing, and the ride manufacturer and a third-party roller coaster engineering expert validated the findings, according to a company memo. The ride reopened Oct. 4.
A surf pool is the centerpiece of Disney World’s Typhoon Lagoon water park (Preston Mack/Walt Disney Co.)
At Walt Disney World, two incidents were reported at Typhoon Lagoon water park. A 56-year-old was struck on the head by another visitor in the wave pool on July 29, and a 44-year-old visitor fell and hit her head while exiting Miss Adventure Falls, a raft ride, on Aug. 12.
On Sept. 1, a 50-year-old man felt chest pains after exiting Toy Story Mania, an animated simulator ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. And on Sept. 24, a 77-year-old woman fell and injured her ankle as she exited Na’vi River Journey, a flat, dark, water ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
A report was filed from SeaWorld Orlando on July 14, indicating that a 22-year-old person “with reported prior medical conditions experienced a medical illness after riding” Kraken, a floorless roller coaster, the report said.
No injuries were reported in the period at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Legoland Florida or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
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