Shylah Rodden rollercoaster accident shock – as Royal Melbourne Show where collision happened throws open the gates once more
EXCLUSIVE
The roller coaster that hit Shylah Rodden almost a year ago is returning to the Melbourne Royal Show despite an ongoing investigation into its operators.
The 27-year-old was struck at full speed by the Rebel Rollercoaster during last year’s event, an incident that attracted worldwide attention after a video emerged online.
Shylah was thrown nine meters into the air by the speeding ride after she tried to retrieve a dropped phone on September 24.
She has to spend years in rehabilitation after suffering a serious brain injury.
Shylah Rodden’s life was shattered when she was struck by the Rebel Rollercoaster at last year’s Melbourne Royal Show
Gruesome footage showed Shylah Rodden (pictured in black) moments before he was hit by the Rebel Coaster at the Melbourne Royal show on September 24
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that in 2023, showgoers will have to pay $15 to ride the rollercoaster, which features ‘dips, loops, tight turns and plenty of thrills’.
The ride’s operators could still face charges from the safety watchdog, which has remained tight-lipped over the past year.
A WorkSafe spokesperson simply told Daily Mail Australia this week that the investigation remained “ongoing”.
However, it is understood that a dedicated team of inspectors and engineers will inspect every ride taking place this year before the gates open.
A spokesperson for the Melbourne Royal Show told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that organizers had installed additional CCTV cameras around the event site, especially in the Carnival precinct, to provide more coverage and better footage of activities during rides.
“We once again express our condolences to Shylah and her family following the incident during the 2022 show. We also extend our thoughts to the bystanders who witnessed the incident,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Organizers reiterated that the Rebel Coaster and all other attractions at the show are independently owned and operated.
“We have continued to work with attraction operators, WorkSafe, independent engineers and authorities to assess the safety and operation of all attractions on site to ensure they are safe before opening to the public,” the spokesperson said .
The Melbourne Royal Show opens on September 21 and runs until October 1.
Shylah Rodden’s Long Fight
News of the roller coaster’s participation in the event will come as no surprise to Shylah’s long-suffering family.
Shylah’s loved ones have largely avoided the spotlight over the past year after coming under fire from heartless trolls who blamed her for her own tragic fate.
They had criticized the show’s organizers for reopening the ride just days after the incident.
It was given the green light after a WorkSafe inspection concluded it was ‘safe’.
A spokeswoman for the Melbourne Royal Show claimed that ‘the safety and well-being of our show visitors remains our highest priority’ (pictured, the Royal Melbourne Show)
Shylah’s sister Caisha Rodden, who had been keeping vigil at the bedside with concerned family members, described her family’s disgust at the time in one word.
“Embarrassing,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
Caisha did not respond to questions this week. News of her sister’s recovery remains a mystery.
How the Shylah Rodden Incident Unfolded
On the day she was hit by the roller coaster, Shylah had been working at a friend’s stall at the Melbourne Royal Show.
The pair had been on a break when they decided to go for a few drives to pass the time.
It is understood Shylah dropped her phone while on the roller coaster and police believe she walked onto the tracks of the high-speed ride to retrieve the device.
Shocking footage released via a tasteless TikTok video showed the moment of impact.
Government sources told Daily Mail Australia shortly after the incident that what prompted Shylah to jump onto the tracks was not a concern of the safety watchdog.
It is understood that WorkSafe’s investigation is largely focused on what the ride’s operators were doing when Shylah entered the tracks.
“Her toxicity levels are not relevant to the investigation into whether the duty holder did all that was reasonably practicable to provide a safe and healthy workplace,” a source told Daily Mail Australia last year.
Questions about the height of the fences around the attraction (photo) remain unanswered by show management
You can see a passenger hopping on the ride with her purse
A spokeswoman for the Melbourne Royal Show told Daily Mail Australia at the time that WorkSafe had declared the ride safe to reopen.
“The safety and well-being of our showgoers remains our number one priority,” she said in a statement at the time.
“Strict safety protocols are being enforced in accordance with Victorian WorkSafe regulations. All on-site rides have undergone stringent compliance inspections and have passed all required safety documentation.”
Daily Mail Australia then asked organizers to reveal what, if any, new procedures, requirements or improvements the safety watchdog has issued.
Show management declined to answer.
Safety inspectors are likely to take a keen interest in the roller coaster at this year’s event.
Checks on rides can be carried out by inspectors at any time during the show.
Inspections assess factors such as safety systems, wear and tear, maintenance history and whether or not ride drivers or attendants have been properly trained.
Shylah ROdden’s condition remains unknown a year after she was struck by a roller coaster
Video obtained by Daily Mail Australia last year showed passengers clearly holding on to their belongings while on the roller coaster, which rides completely upside down.
Access to the tracks also appeared to be limited by a short fence.
Shylah was in a coma for weeks and in the Royal Melbourne for many more months Hospital before her release in January.
Arnold Thomas & Becker, lawyers for Ms Rodden, confirmed at the time that she had been transferred from hospital to another care facility.
A spokesman for the law firm said: ‘While this indicates that her condition has stabilised, the injuries she has suffered remain life-changing.’
Shylah Rodden is on the road to recovery after being thrown nine meters into the air when hit by a roller coaster at the Royal Melbourne Show
Shylah Rodden’s sister (pictured) said she had a long road ahead of her in recovery and was still unable to communicate with loved ones
Shylah’s father Alan Rodden told Daily Mail Australia shortly after the incident that his daughter had suffered life-changing injuries.
‘I can’t talk to my daughter. She will be in a coma for a while,” 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 so much damage was done.
“Even the doctors say they haven’t seen something this bad in a long time.”
a GoFundMe The fundraiser, set up to help with Shylah’s recovery, raised just $36,483 before it closed – a fraction of the millions that will likely be needed to ensure she lives a comfortable life.
Police revealed the roller coaster was traveling at a speed of 45mph when she was hit.
Fair veteran Brendan Mogler was so shaken by the memory of the accident that he quit the fair business after a lifetime of working on rides.
Mr Mogler said those who witnessed the accident – and dealt with its devastating aftermath – had had their lives seriously affected.
“What about the emotional damage (done) to all of our employees who worked on the roller coaster that day?” the distressed father posted on Facebook on Monday.
“After 20 years of working on rides and roller coasters, I will never work on another ride again.”
Members of the public who have concerns about the safety of a fairground attraction can report them to WorkSafe’s advisory service on 1800 136 089.