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Another medical incident at Kings Island

Kings Island: This time at Diamondback

From Charles Reichley
Posted August 17, 2009 at 9:07 AM
I was at Kings Island this morning. They had a "park run" before the opening, which first meant that some passholders were held at the gate until almost 9:30, and that when passholders got to Diamondback, there was already a good crowd of runners there.

Anyway, when waiting for a 2nd ride on Diamondback about 10:10am, a man collapsed just outside the exit gate. The ride staff responded quickly.

Two women were in front of me in line, one of them was a registered nurse. The other woman called to staff to tell them about the nurse, and they eventually let the nurse through the gate.

The woman proceeded to try to cross the track BETWEEN two of the cars. She then fell in between the cars and down into the pit. Fortunately, she only fell up to her shoulders -- I guess the pit isn't that deep.

A ride staff had to come and help her out from between the cars.

I'm guessing this is one of the reasons the staff is reluctant to allow non-park professionals to help when there is an emergency. If this had been a ride with an 8-foot pit below it, they could well have had TWO incidents, and one of them would be a direct result of the action of the ride staff.

Fortunately, the nurse was not hurt, and was able to get over to the man who was in distress (the woman in front of me said it was a seizure, I have no reason to doubt her).

They shut the ride down only for a short time, they sent two park people on the train the man rode on once around the track while the other two trains went empty, and then they re-opened.

Given their recent problem with Firehawk and Son of the Beast, I'm guessing the KI staff is on heightened alert for medical problems. They seemed to respond quickly, although the woman in front of me didn't think they were doing very well.


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From Eli Katzman
Posted August 17, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Wow! Another shocking story! Do you know how the man came out of it? Like if he was all right? And did the nurse in front of you help at all? Well, I mean, did her nursing skills help the man? As if was she to any assistance?

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