Gwazi Incident

Another amusement related death in Florida this year.. a man had an apparent heart attack after riding Gwazi at Busch Gardens, and was later pronounced dead.

Here is a news story:
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/breaking_news/15121243.htm

I bet you, next year, Cedar Fair will install heart monitors at the end of every rollercoaster at every park in the chain. Oh yes, with seatbelts.

A man dies less then TWO HOURS after riding the coaster?
Oh, it must be the coasters Fault! I am tired of the media blowing these things so out of wack.

"He did have a heart condition that they were attending to" says it all.

Oh well. People die of Heart attacks all the time.

Nothing to see here, move along.

Here is another story about it:
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=36085

It was not two hours later...
"Mr. Welch asked park attendants for assistance after exiting the Gwazi roller coaster. He was responsive when First Aid arrived two minutes later, but subsequently required CPR, which was initiated immediately. First Aid also applied an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to monitor Mr. Welch's heart activity."

Don't know how it wouldn't be the coaster aggravating the pre-exisiting condition. Just another freak incident. *** Edited 7/26/2006 2:33:24 AM UTC by Halo***

I think people just become SO accustomed to seeing *Warning* signs everywhere (not just at parks, but ALL over the place), they don't really pay much attention, and don't really have a decent gauge of "relative risk".

The fact that the heart condition was known, and Gwazi was "closed for less than an hour after the incident" pretty much absolves the park, IMO.

Sad in any case... :(

I wonder if it was the first ride he rode. If not, I am surprised he survived any of the other coasters since almost all of them are more intense than Gwazi.

I agree that people do not read warngin signs enough. People just assume that look at all the people riding I will be fine sort of thing. I think that too many people with conditions ride thrill rides and I am glad not as many die as they do. Recently while I was at SFOG my youth director said she isn't going to ride roller coasters anymore because she has high blood pressure and stuff. I said well good fo you too many people with conditions get on rides and then die and it gives the rides and the park bad names. But the park really can't do anyhting about it, they have put up the signs thats pretty much all they can do.

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James K said:
A man dies less then TWO HOURS after riding the coaster?
Oh, it must be the coasters Fault! I am tired of the media blowing these things so out of wack.

"He did have a heart condition that they were attending to" says it all.

Oh well. People die of Heart attacks all the time.

Nothing to see here, move along.

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Just pointing out the random fact that as of the moment you have 666 posts.

Pretty soon we will have breifing rooms before we can get on a coaster. Sort of like the sponge bob rides.

My dad had a heart condition. Once he found this out, he swore off coasters completely.
I was little, like 8, and i asked him what he would do for thrills. He told me mom was enough for him.
:)

Regardless of fault, it's sad to hear of another park death. (or death related to a park/ride.)

I saw so many warning signs at Space Mountain that I decided not to go on it. I've regretted it since.

Best regards,

Sunday Silence(who does not have heart problems)

A guy freakin' died. Can some of you show just a shred of sensitivity for five minutes?

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James K said:
Oh, it must be the coasters Fault! I am tired of the media blowing these things so out of wack.

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The "media" isn't doing anything. The story reports the facts. It doesn't say, "Man dies maybe because of dangerous coaster."

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Arson said:
I bet you, next year, Cedar Fair will install heart monitors at the end of every rollercoaster at every park in the chain. Oh yes, with seatbelts.

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Perhaps they will set up testing stations. They could write it off as a public service.
What can of worms that may open is anyone's guess.

My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. (I feel like i've said that more this summer than any other.)

According to the stories, the medical examiner said the man had high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. It doesn't mention whether he was currently being treated for either condition. He could have been, although you wouldn't need the medical examiner to tell you that if he were. It is two different things.

If he weren't aware he had either condition, warning signs would have meant nothing to him. Has anyone here ever read a warning sign on a ride and thought, "Hmmm, maybe I have one of those conditions but never had it diagnosed. I better not ride?"

It's sad that someone lost his life, and you feel for his family and friends, and anyone who witnessed it. But on the other hand, would you want the last thing you did on this earth be something you loved doing, or die alone in a nursing home or hospital hooked up to Lord knows what? Guess that's easy for someone who hasn't lost anyone lately to say.