ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Orlando has temporarily closed its hyper-coaster Mako, manufactured by the same company that designed the coaster Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia, where a man fell to his death on Monday while riding the high-speed attraction.
PREVIOUS: Man falls to his death from Six Flags Over Georgia roller coaster
Bolliger & Mabillard is a prominent Swiss company that has designed coasters all over the world, including several in Central Florida.
Mako and Goliath share the same designation as a hyper-coaster because of their drop height at over 200 feet. They also share the same ride harness system, which is why SeaWorld shut down its popular thrill ride “out of an abundance of caution.”
According to a statement from the theme park, “The safety of our guests and team members is a top priority. Our safety staff and ride technicians strive to maintain and deliver attractions that our guests can enjoy with confidence. That work includes regular ride inspections and ongoing collaboration with ride manufacturers and other engineering and safety experts.”
Other Central Florida coasters designed by B&M include Manta at SeaWorld Orlando, Penguin Trek at SeaWorld Orlando, Pipeline: The Surf Coaster at SeaWorld Orlando, Phoenix Rising at Busch Gardens Tampa, Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa, SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa, Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa, and The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
This follows another deadly roller coaster accident last year at Universal’s Epic Universe, where a 32-year-old man died from blunt impact injuries after riding the high-speed coaster Stardust Racers.