A day of fun at SeaWorld San Diego nearly turned deadly after one of the park’s most popular rides nearly malfunctioned.
A mother-daughter duo from Arizona managed to walk away from a potentially deadly accident after the mom said her daughter’s safety harness malfunctioned.
Salina Higgins told Fox News the terrifying encounter started when they decided to ride the Electric Eel roller coaster during their July 9 trip.
She said when the ride got to the first “upside down part,” her daughter’s shoulder strap was dangling in front of her.
“I just so happened to open my eyes, and my daughter started screaming because her strap was dangling in front of her face as we hung upside down,” Higgins said. “I then grabbed the strap, secured it and held onto it for dear life as we both were screaming until the ride was over.”
She said the ride was over in under a minute, but it was “the longest 47 seconds of my life.”
Higgins said after the ride was over, she told an attendant what had happened and later escalated her concerns to guest services.
Higgins said she was told to read the disclaimers posted outside the ride, with one sign reading: “Hold on tight and remain seated with the comfort collar secured at all times during the ride.”
Another sign indicated that the comfort straps are “designed for your comfort only.”
Higgins said after some back-and-forth with SeaWorld staff, she and her family were escorted off the property by security.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, SeaWord San Diego said it takes safety very seriously, and insisted there was not a safety concern during the ride.
“All rides and attractions, including Electric Eel, are designed, operated and inspected daily in accordance with all applicable standards and manufacturer specifications. The ‘harness’ this family is referencing is called a ‘comfort collar,’ which is intended for the rider’s comfort and is not a restraining device,” the company said.
SeaWorld explained that the lap bar and shin bar are the only restraining devices on the coaster, and said those devices remained secure.
It said signage at the entrance of the ride indicates that the comfort collar is “for rider comfort only.”
Check out the footage for yourself and you be the judge:
SeaWorld calls it 853 feet of pure excitement. But for one woman and her daughter, riding the Electric Eel roller coaster was pure terror. https://t.co/SbmVvIzpDz
— ABC 10News San Diego (@10News) July 13, 2024