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Experts have revealed the reasons why some roller coaster accidents are unavoidable weeks after a woman was hit by a roller coaster while trying to get her phone off the track.
Shylah Rodden, 26, was thrown nine meters into the air after being struck by the Rebel Coaster, which was traveling at speeds of 70 km/h, during the Melbourne Royal Show on September 25.
Obviously, Ms. Rodden dropped her phone while she was on the roller coaster and walking on the tracks of the high-speed ride to retrieve her device.
Australian Institute of Health and Safety chair Naomi Kemp told Daily Mail Australia that some accidents are unavoidable because ‘there is always a person who can do the unexpected’.
Shylah Rodden (pictured) is in an artificial coma after being hit by a roller coaster on September 25. Ms Rodden is believed to have walked out onto the track to retrieve her cell phone
“A lot of the amusement injuries and incidents we see are children not wearing seat belts or not properly fastened, or faulty mechanisms, so the ride itself is to blame.” said Mrs. Kemp.
“In this scenario, it was actually not the operation of the ride itself that was unsafe, but the impact of a pedestrian.
‘We don’t just have to think about the safety of the ride, but also the safety zone around the ride in which it travels.’
Ms Kemp explained that established theme parks have permanent structures that restrict public access to roller coasters, while movable parties and shows use “simple barriers or fences” that can be easily circumvented.
“At shows and parties, they usually put up the simple barriers or fences, but that doesn’t really stop anyone from jumping over or walking in while the ride is in operation,” Ms. Kemp said.
“We have to think about this situation, which is very difficult when you’re on a show, and you have small children, and there are a lot of uncontrollable audience members in one area.”
The certified health and safety professional said ride operators should go through the “last line of defense” to ensure the area is clear.
“There’s also the management of the barriers and the roller coaster area,” said Mrs. Kemp.
“Ride operators have to go through the process of “do we have everything clear to work?” and “is the zone clear?”
“We call this administrative controls or rules or processes to manage that last line of defense.”
The 26-year-old was thrown nine meters into the air after being hit by the Rebel Coaster, during the Melbourne Royal Show (pictured, is a selection of images, unpublished by Daily Mail Australia, of Mrs Rodden approaching the ride)
Despite Ms Rodden’s decision to walk onto the track, Ms Kemp urged the public not to blame the drivers of attractions or victims of roller coaster accidents.
“We’re really trying not to blame the employee or any member of the public,” Ms Kemp said.
Australian Institute of Health and Safety president Naomi Kemp (pictured) said enforcing safety rules around risk areas proved difficult, especially at pop-up shows and parties
“Obviously Ms Rodden has made the decision to go into space to pick up her phone, but from a professional perspective we need to understand that there is a chance someone will make that decision.
“We have to figure out ways to prevent that and prevent anyone from making that decision.”
It is clear that WorkSafe is now investigating what the drivers of the ride were doing when Ms. Rodden got on the trail.
On the day she was hit by the roller coaster, Mrs Rodden was working in a friend’s booth at the Melbourne Royal Show.
The pair had been on a hiatus when they decided to take a few rides to pass the time.
On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the Royal Melbourne Hospital confirmed that Shylah’s condition was now classified as serious rather than critical.
The extent of her injuries is still unclear, with her family – who were struggling with the death of her older brother just two months before the incident – braced for the possibility that she might never speak again.
Ms Rodden (pictured) is in a serious but stable condition, but the extent of her injuries is still unclear
The father of Mrs. Rodden told Daily Mail Australia that his daughter had been placed in an artificial coma and suffered life-changing injuries.
‘I can’t talk to my daughter. She will be in a coma for quite some time,” he said.
“The injuries are terrible. Awful. She has brain damage. It’s the pelvis, her arms, legs, back, neck – there’s almost nothing that isn’t broken. I just don’t understand how the hell so much damage was done.
“Even the doctors have said they haven’t seen this much in ages.”
A GoFundMe was set up to help Mrs Rodden’s family pay for the treatment and care of the 26-year-old who reportedly suffered massive brain damage in the accident.
The fund has received 301 donations totaling $13,040 and hopes to raise $20,000.
A spokeswoman for the Melbourne Royal Show claimed that ‘the safety and well-being of our visitors to the show remains our number one priority’ (pictured, the Royal Melbourne Show)
A spokeswoman for the Melbourne Royal Show claimed that ‘the safety and well-being of our visitors to the show remains our number one priority’.
The safety watchdog WorkSafe is in the process of determining whether that claim is true.
The roller coaster that hit her reopened just days after the incident.
Show management declined to comment on whether any new safety procedures had been adopted in the aftermath.
The Royal Melbourne Show has set up a support service for anyone who has suffered trauma as a result of the incident, which can be arranged through their website.