Accidents Involving Injury at Busch Gardens Tampa

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 Tampa? Report it to Theme Park Insider.

Verified Incidents

7/18/2009 - Skyride - Submitted by robert on 7/18/2009

Maikon Bonani, 20, fell from the SkyRide while working as an attendant on the ride. He reportedly fell 35 feet and broke a bone in his back.

Click here if you have additional information.

Follow-up:
My girlfriend witnessed this with her children yesterday and sent me a photo on her phone. It was right in front of her, literally. It took over 20 minutes for the Busch Gardens medics to arrive and bystanders were trying to help in the mean time. She told the Busch Gardens people she would give a statement or testify to what she saw and they told her she needed to leave.I have the picture on my phone and would like to email it to you if you need it. -- Submitted by mollysue1 on 7/19/2009

Thomas M. Welch, 52, of Palm Harbor, Florida, complained tha he felt ill shorty after riding Gwazi. Park paramedics responded and performed CPR after Welch lost consciousness. He was taken to local hospital, where he died, about two hours after riding.

Click here if you have additional information.

Follow-up:
I read about this in the paper but it was unconfirmed but then I read about it on the site below, also with details of various other accidents. -- Submitted by smellybelly on 8/18/2006

A 350-pound, 12-year-old lion bit off the arm of a 21-year-old zookeeper. The accident happened in a non-public area of the attraction, when the zookepper was taking her family on a behind the scenes tour of the animals' sleeping area. The zookeeper was taken to hospital in serious, but stable condition. The park promised to review it safety procedures.

For more information about this incident, visit http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-lionattack.story

Click here if you have additional information.

Rhino Rally was temporarily closed after one of the Land Rovers tipped over, injuring a 23-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl. Although animals were in the area at the time, none caused any problems. According to the newspaper report, the injured teen claimed the driver was "acting goofy" and took a turn too sharp.

For more information about this incident, visit http://www.sptimes.com/News/062701/TampaBay/Rhino_Rally_accident_.shtml

Click here if you have additional information.

Follow-up:
I live in tampa and have a pass to BG. I can confirm this happened it was all over the news. I remember being on the ride and going into the water by the crocidiles when our land rover broke down. We had to be towed out to safety. -- Submitted by JessaJLZ on 11/5/2003

Unverified Reports

I am a 15 year old male who rode SheiKra. During the first drop, I had my arms in the air when the car started turning into the loop. My arms got flung down and I broke my right wrist.

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

Follow-up:
...your not suppose to have your hands up in the first place. -- Submitted by fuzzylogic15 on 3/31/2007

Before you enter the ride there are signs that warn riders to keep arms and legs inside the car at all times AND to hold on to rails. You were hurt because you didn't follow the ride's saftey precautions. -- Submitted by amberly05 on 6/22/2007

An Edge of Africa keeper was bitten by a hippo during a training session. He was bitten on the arm. The keeper was sent to the hospital for surgery, repairing nerve and vascular damage.

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

My friend who is a 13 yr. old female was riding Montu with her hands up in the air. When she put them down, her arm got caught on the seat behind her and she hurt her shoulder.

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

Follow-up:
I think I remember A teenager raising her hands in the air in the beggininng of the ride in the front and then getting them stuck. -- Submitted by Name Withheld on 1/25/2004

Before you enter the ride there are signs that warn riders to keep arms and legs inside the car at all times AND to hold on to rails. Your friend was hurt because she didn't follow the ride's saftey precautions. -- Submitted by amberly05 on 6/22/2007

Recieved this through a e-mail... Person informed me Hapims could've worked perfect in this type of situation, as park patrons were becoming furious as ride ops did NOTHING!!!!!!! Lady in her mid 40s or 50s injured her back April First around 11:00 et at Busch Gardens Tampa, on Gwazi the Lion side in the last row of the second last car (third last row of train). Many ride ops and family members comforted her in the train until 2 park paramedics got there about 15 minutes later. 1 paramedic held the bag while the other checked rates with a stethascope. About 25 minutes later a few men with shirts reading "Tampa Fire Rescue" show up with a stretcher and backboard, and take the lady away about 5 minutes later.

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

Follow-up:
On this ride I injured my back. On the first or second hill, it felt like something snapped in my back. Then, I had terrible pain for the rest of the ride. After I got off, the pain kept getting worse. We went to the first aid center there to report the incident. They suggested that we should go to the emergency room to make sure that it wasn't serious. -- Submitted by mattand2895 on 6/12/2009

Lacey Ingram, 13, suffered a seizure [or heart attack] after riding [Kumba] June 10, 1995. Park employees were accused of failing to administer CPR and slowing rescue efforts by a nurse and paramedics. A birth defect made Ingram's heart more susceptible to irregular rhythms. After the ride, electrical impulses made Ingram's heart contract rapidly in random twitches, which didn't let the heart continue to pump blood.

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

In March 2003, or March 2002, A guy was delivered to a nearby hospital due to heat exposure, or heart failure. I don't know if he died or not, but three medical people were carrying him down the two- hour long line. A few people said that he was so muggy that he collasped because the weather that day was like 91 degrees farhinheit. And I heard he lived up north.

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

Last week, probably 10/23/03, a guest injured both wrists while riding Tidal Wave. The guest apparently was injured in the drop/splash while riding in the front row holding on to the hand rails in front of him. Since then all hand rails have been removed from the top of the seats.

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

Follow-up:
A 15 year old male suffered one broken arm and sprained his other wrist and forearm. He was holding onto a hand rail and felt sharp pain when the "flume" ride hit the water. -- Submitted by lygnoslawfirm on 1/4/2005

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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