Theme park ride accident: Boy in coma after falling 30 feet from log ride
- 8 years ago
PHOENIX — A young boy is in critical condition after falling from a ride at a theme park in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday.
The accident has left 12-year-old Dominick Leal with a cracked skull and severe swelling of the brain, the Arizona Republic reports. The event occurred around 4 p.m. as Leal was riding a log flume ride with his sister at Phoenix's Castles N' Coasters.
Leal's grandparents, Carroll and Edward Stevenson, who were present, say he waved his arms and yelled that he was sliding backward. The Stevensons say their grandson would be safe if not for the ride's operator disregarding his cries for help at the top of the ride. The park's general manager disputed this in an email to KTVK-3TV.
"We have multiple people who witnessed the boy stand up at the last second and try to get out of the boat at the top of the ride. The ride operator at the top of the ride was able to have communication with the boy before the incident and the boy said he was 'ok' and to not stop the ride ... There was no malfunction on the ride. Unfortunately, if he had followed the safety rules he would be fine."
After standing up, Leal lost his balance and went over the side. He was dragged a short distance, his grandparents say, and then fell.
"He started yelling that they were sliding," Carroll Stevenson told the Arizona Republic. "He fell out of the ride, fell 30 feet and hit his head." Leal struck his head at least once during his fall and was attended to first by Edward.
Leal received emergency brain surgery at Phoenix Children's Hospital to relieve pressure on his brain and remains there in critical condition.
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The accident has left 12-year-old Dominick Leal with a cracked skull and severe swelling of the brain, the Arizona Republic reports. The event occurred around 4 p.m. as Leal was riding a log flume ride with his sister at Phoenix's Castles N' Coasters.
Leal's grandparents, Carroll and Edward Stevenson, who were present, say he waved his arms and yelled that he was sliding backward. The Stevensons say their grandson would be safe if not for the ride's operator disregarding his cries for help at the top of the ride. The park's general manager disputed this in an email to KTVK-3TV.
"We have multiple people who witnessed the boy stand up at the last second and try to get out of the boat at the top of the ride. The ride operator at the top of the ride was able to have communication with the boy before the incident and the boy said he was 'ok' and to not stop the ride ... There was no malfunction on the ride. Unfortunately, if he had followed the safety rules he would be fine."
After standing up, Leal lost his balance and went over the side. He was dragged a short distance, his grandparents say, and then fell.
"He started yelling that they were sliding," Carroll Stevenson told the Arizona Republic. "He fell out of the ride, fell 30 feet and hit his head." Leal struck his head at least once during his fall and was attended to first by Edward.
Leal received emergency brain surgery at Phoenix Children's Hospital to relieve pressure on his brain and remains there in critical condition.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
Visit our official website for all the latest, uncensored videos: http://us.tomonews.net
Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f
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Instagram @tomonewsus http://instagram.com/tomonewsus