Woman Dies at Six Flags America

I was reading the Washington Post this morning and came across this article.

Last night (the Fourth) A woman was found floating unconscious in the bottom of the Shark Attack catch pool water slide. She was 27 and was with her family. They administered CPR and used a fibrillator in attempt to revive her. It happened at 6 P.M. Paramedics said she went in to cardiac arrest during the ride. The exact cause of death was undetermened. Six Flags America reports that this has never happened on that ride.

Thats not the entire story, just the big parts. And all information came from the Washington Post and the article was ritten by Jonathan Abel.

Ok, this is really sad to see. Cardiac arrest on Shark Attack? Ive been on both slides, they are very short, both slides well under 30 seconds. It's pretty wierd.

-Colin-

I saw a short clip on fox about that. They didn't have many details and I couldn't find anything on the web about it. Be intresting to see the results and find out what really happen.

Wow, well I can't imagine that it was because of the ride, probably just the mix of her health, and the effects of the ride. Thats too bad.

Sorry to hear this happened, but I've been thinking of the many things that could've happened to cause this kind of problem. But, I will not speculate and will wait for the state to finish their report and the results of the autopsy. Here is the link to the article Colin is talking about:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/04/AR2005070401335.html

The family is in my thoughts and prayers.

*** Edited 7/5/2005 11:31:12 PM UTC by coasterguts*** *** Edited 7/5/2005 11:39:52 PM UTC by coasterguts***

Thanks coasterguts for finishing it up. Yeah there family is in my prayers also.

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Six Flags America reports that this has never happened on that ride.

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Oh well I feel safer, because its never happened ON THAT ride before. That doesnt seem like a very good press release, or am i jsut stupied?

I didn't post it as news because frankly it's a non-event. People have heart attacks. Not much you can do about it.

To my knowlege, there has only been one other death in the water park at SFA, a boy drowned in the wave pool when the park was Wild World. I believe in 1985. I'm sure if you asked Lahne Curry she will tell you her quote was taken out of context. I've watched the lifeguards at SFA, my personal opinion is they are some of the more attentive ones. As opposed to some other local parks where the lifeguards themselves had to be saved. Oh and by the way, I've read a few different reports that say the woman died at the hospital later that evening. *** Edited 7/6/2005 1:31:58 AM UTC by coasterguts***

This is very sad to hear about a loss at a amusement park. The family is in my prayers.

True Jeff. If this had happend on a transit bus, it probably would have made the papers only on a really slow news day. The only reason it did was because where it happened.

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AKA "heart Attack") can happen at any time and be brought on for a variety of reasons.

I would assume in this incident (as with most) this woman's potential for Myocardial Infarction was very high, whether she was aware of it or not. For some reason, Maybe the exhaustion of the day, or the thrill of the ride, or perhaps acute hypertension, triggered this M.I. which was already waiting to happen.

From the text in the article, "Park officials administered first aid and CPR and used a defibrillator in an attempt to revive her." Most likely, the AED (defibrillator) pads were probably placed on the body.. but she probably never recieved shock(s). Contrary to Popular belief, an AED is not used to "jump start" a flat line heart like you see in the movies. it is simply used to restart a hearth that is beating rapidly and/or irregular (AKA ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation). My guess is that by the time she was noticed, pulled out of the water, and the AED applied, she was already flatline, and unshockable.

I am glad to see that an AED was able to be used though. All Parks should have multiple AED's placed throughout the parks.

My computer instructor, and someone that I now work with, recently had two heart attacks over the course of two weeks. He was telling me the other day that he knew things were bad the first time (started feeling pain in his arm etc.), but didn't take action at first. Maybe it was this kind of casual attitude, or lack of knowledge of potential symptoms, that caused the womans death. I've heard that it's heart disease, not breast cancer, that is the leading cause of death for women. That could've been another factor.

Yes, heart diesease is #1, sad to say.

Well my sympathies to the women's Family! I also have a link from WJZ-13 a CBS affiliate for Baltimore.

http://wjz.com/localstories/local_story_187085109.html

I will wait for a full report to pass judgment on Six Flags. After all it won't matter to the Lady's family if Six Flags is at fault or not, she is gone and nothing will bring her back.

This Washington Post did do an update on this story, including what sounds to me like interviews of guest while still inside the park.

Story here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501613.html

One last follow up on this story. The lady died of an irregular heartbeat, obesity and fatty liver.

Here is the article:

http://www.eveningsun.com/Stories/0,1413,140~9956~2982004,00.html

I agree. It would not have made the news if it happened anywhere else. I am sure some will blame the ride, though.

Still, my prayers are with the family.

-Tina

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coasterguts said:
One last follow up on this story. The lady died of an irregular heartbeat, obesity and fatty liver.

Here is the article:

http://www.eveningsun.com/Stories/0,1413,140~9956~2982004,00.html[/quote]

Of course the ride ops should have know all that was wrong with her and shouldn't have let her ride.

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Are you serious? If so I suspect you have a brain tumor and shouldn't be allowed on any rides.

Other than the fact that she was obese, what exactly was the ride op supposed to know about her ailments? Can you spot people with a fatty liver? Are you gifted enough to know which human beings have irregular heartbeats just by looking at them? If so, I recommend that you get into the medical profession ASAP.

We cant do as much to stop people from riding as you all seem to think we can..