RSSOrlando Maintenance Worker Killed After Fall From StarFlyer Tourist Attraction
According to preliminary accident reports from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and local news outlets, on Monday, September 14th, 2020, a maintenance worker was fatally injured after he fell over 200 feet while performing a daily safety check on Orlando’s popular StarFlyer tourist attraction.
It was early Monday morning at approximately 7:40 a.m. when dispatchers at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Communications Section first started to receive 9-1-1 calls regarding a man who had fallen from the StarFlyer sky swing at ICON Park on International Drive in Orlando. Emergency response teams and officers with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene within minutes to find an unconscious man lying on one of the ride’s platforms and suffering from cardiac arrest. Witness statements indicate that the 21-year-old maintenance worker was halfway up the StarFlyer in the process of conducting a routine ride inspection on the 450-foot tall tourist attraction when he fell almost 200 feet onto an elevated platform below. The unresponsive man was immediately transported by ambulance to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, but due to the severity of his injuries, he passed away shortly upon arrival. Another worker had to be rescued from the amusement park ride as well, although they were uninjured in the incident.
“It’s a shock. (We are) saddened by it. Any time there is an injury or something of this nature, it’s extremely sad. We’re holding up and supporting each other,” said John Stine, the marketing and sales director for StarFlyer.
As with any accident of this type, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Florida will be conducting a thorough investigative inquiry into this case. Similarly, detectives with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office will be organizing their own investigation of the worker’s death. The ride will remain closed until further notice.
Located at one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations, aside from Disney World of course, Orlando’s StarFlyer sky swing originally opened at ICON Park in 2018. Nicknamed the “world’s tallest swing ride,” it features 24 swing-style seats that propel riders in a circular motion 450 feet above ground for the duration of 3-4 minutes.
Sources:
- Worker falls to his death from StarFlyer attraction in Orlando
- Worker Dies After Falling from Orlando StarFlyer Attraction
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.