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Accidents Involving Injury at Busch Gardens Europe

Official U.S. federal and state data on theme park accidents is almost nonexistent. That's why Theme Park Insider users are creating this visitor-maintained database of theme park accidents--to give public at least some information about attraction safety records.

Do you know of, or have been part of, an accident involving injury at Busch Gardens Europe? Report it to Theme Park Insider.

Verified Incidents

(Even though these incidents have been verified, individual reports might contain the opinion of the persons submitting them.)

8/11/2006 - Alpengeist - Submitted by robert on 8/11/2006

A 17-year-old rider suffered a broken leg after riding Alpengeight, at about 5:20 p.m. this evening. James City County fire officials reported that the boy, whose name has not yet been released, fractured his femur in two places. According to park officials, the victim suffered from a pre-existing medical condition that may have contributed to the injury. As a result, the victim was airlifted to Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk.

  • Click here if you have additional information.

    • 3/1/2003 - Big Bad Wolf - Submitted by ScamPolice on 3/3/2003
    A painter working on the Big Bad Wolf roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg died after the high-reaching vehicle he was in overturned. A fire department spokesman said the man was dead when rescue workers arrived shortly before 10:30 a.m.

  • For more information about this incident, visit http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--brf-rollercoaster0301mar01.story

  • Click here if you have additional information.

    • 5/19/2001 - Le Scoot - Submitted by Name Withheld on 5/30/2001
    A teenage boy was treated for a minor leg injury at Williamsburg Community Hospital after jumping off the "Le Scoot" flume ride

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    • Follow-up:
    A young boy stood up on the ride as it was going over the last hill on the ride. He then lost his balance and fell out. the boy got stuck in a draiage grate halfway down the hill. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 3/27/2002

    3/30/1999 - Apollo's Chariot - Submitted by Name Withheld on 4/12/2002
    Happened about 3-4 years ago. Fabio's face smashed into a flying goose over the river. He didn't sue, on the condition that netting be placed to prevent another goose from breaking a child's neck.

  • For more information about this incident, visit http://www.starcoasters.com/ridereviews/apolloschariot/apolloschariot.htm

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    • Follow-up:
    This happened when the ride first opened. Fabio (an adult male) was on this riding this ride a few years ago. While he was on it a goose ran into him. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 4/11/2004

    This IS true! -- Submitted by nickfromhonaker on 11/15/2004

    here he is -- Submitted by cowlad on 1/25/2007

    7/25/1998 - Loch Ness Monster - Submitted by robert on 5/7/2002
    A 47-year-old woman suffered a brain injury that resulted in memory loss. The diagnosis was inertial left retinal tears and detachment.

  • For more information about this incident, visit http://www.house.gov/markey/iss_parkrides_list020507c.pdf

  • Click here if you have additional information.

    • Unverified Reports

    6/10/2006 - Lorikeet Glen - Submitted by sueblack on 6/12/2006
    I commented on a pretty bird in the aviary (red bird, red eyes, w/a mohawk), but I was warned that he was aggressive. A small child ran over to the bird and spooked it, it flew across the walkway towards me. It landed on my shoulder and bit my ear. The trainer had to pry it off my ear and shoo it away. There was no blood or broken skin, just swelling and thobbing. Thank God the child was not hurt. Before we exited the aviary, this same bird bit another guy. There is a sign posted as you walk in "Warning birds might bite" and the trainers will also warn you. Be cautious and watch out for small children. I'd hate for this to happen to a child.

  • This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

    • 5/18/2002 - Land of the Dragons - Submitted by NathanBabcock on 8/5/2005
    Simple rule: keep ALL body parts away from ALL moving mechanisms. The turnstile at the Rhineland carousel broke and lacerated my 3-year-old son's finger. He never got to ride, and we spent three hours at the local hospital so he could get six stitches in his fingertip. Turnstiles have been used for decades to count the number of passengers on rides, and to control the timing of their boarding. This particular model of turnstile, however, poses a safety risk to young children. The three pass-through bars are mounted onto a hub that has 3 large holes; these holes rotate with the bars as each person passes through the turnstile. My son inquisitively put his finger into one of the holes as the turnstile was rotating. The mounting cabinet was not rotating, of course, so when an adult friend tried to encourage him to keep moving through, and pushed the bar to help him (he could barely reach the bar), the stationary cabinet and rotating hub broke the boy's finger, and tore open his fingertip. For three years since this accident, we have pushed the turnstile bars for our children whenever we encounter them, and minimize their "touching" of turnstiles. (Adults never see these openings in the turnstiles, because they are on the underside of a six-inch metal disc that is only three feet off the ground.)

  • This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

    • Follow-up:
    I used to work the Caurosel and we now use manual counters. There is no longer a turnstile. -- Submitted by klq872 on 3/24/2007

    No Date Reported - Roman Rapids - Submitted by ScamPolice on 7/27/2002
    Reports about accidents concerning guests at Busch Gardens are *very* rare, tho they do occur ... This I viewed on CNN around the end of the '00 season: A woman (in her mid twenties) drowned when her 'boat' overturned, pinning her, and several other guests, under the one-and-a-half ton vehicle. The report also included an eyewitness that speculated riders were rocking the boat before the accident happened. An employee of the park informed me the overturned craft story is true, however, he claims, no death actually occurred.

  • This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

    • Follow-up:
    This is not true because Busch Gradens has had no deaths because of any rides. This is just complete false story. -- Submitted by jmqjrk on 5/15/2007

    No Date Reported - Roman Rapids - Submitted by Name Withheld on 1/7/2004
    In April 2002, I broke two ribs while riding Roman Rapids at Bush Gardens Williamsburg. The fractures occurred when the raft stuck the wall near water jets/water guns. I immediately went to the first aid station where my ribs were wrapped with an elastic bandage and I was rushed out the door.

  • This incident has not been confirmed. Click here if you can verify it, or have additional information.

    • Follow-up:
    ok.i can confirm this is true because i saw this person going to the first-aid place with a look on his face tht said everyting.i saw him come out with the elastic around his ribs! be careful when your riding rides and PLEASE follow the rules!! -- Submitted by buschgardensluver on 3/16/2008


    If you have additional information that can confirm, clarify or refute any of these reports, please e-mail the editor! (Please don't forget to include the attraction's name in your message.)

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