Lawsuit says NC man left paralyzed by roller coaster at SC amusement park: What to know
During a North Carolina couple's visit to Family Kingdom Amusement Park in Myrtle Beach on July 23, 2021, the husband rode the Swamp Fox Roller Coaster. After the ride, he suffered a spinal cord injury, rendering him paralyzed, according to a lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed in Horry County Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court by the couple, who are seeking damages. The plaintiff is suing for loss of companionship, fellowship, aid, assistance, company and more.
“While riding the roller coaster as a result of the negligence, carelessness, recklessness, willfulness and wantonness of the Defendants, (the man) suffered an acute injury to his spinal cord which caused quadriplegia,” the lawsuit reads, which names Family Kingdom Inc., Leigh V. Meese, Donnie Snipes and Ocean Avenue Attractions LLC as defendants.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff said the theme park did not examine the ride to ensure it was operating properly, according to a USA TODAY story. The plaintiff also said the ride's issues deemed it, "extremely dangerous, more so than a typical roller coaster."
What did the theme park say in its statement?
A statement from the theme park said the incident occurred took place before its current owners purchased the park.
"We are disappointed to have been sued regarding an incident that is alleged to have occurred 20 months before we owned the park," the statement read. "We cannot speak any further about this matter as litigation is pending.”
However, this is not the first time the theme park has be sued.
Same roller coaster previously injured a guest, lawsuit alleged
Family Kingdom Amusement Park was sued in 2019 by a woman who was injured riding the roller coaster the previous year. The lawsuit stated the roller coaster rose from its tracks and slammed down, worsening her back injury. It also said the ride sent those aboard on a much rougher ride compared to other coasters. Online records show the case was ultimately dismissed.
What to know about the Swamp Fox roller coaster
Per a USA TODAY story, the Swamp Fox Roller Coaster opened in May 1966 and was originally named the "Red Devil" due to its colors. It is 72 feet tall and has a track measuring around 2,400 feet. The theme park's website said the roller coaster received several renovations and upgrades throughout the years to ensure safety, "solidifying its status as a classic wooden coaster despite the rise of modern steel coasters with advanced technology." The roller coaster is 55 years old.
10 best entertainment experiences to enjoy at US theme parks
If roller coasters aren't your thing, try having fun at these entertainment experiences instead:
∎ No. 1: Celtic Fyre: Live Irish Step Dancing at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia
∎ No. 2: Rivertown Ramblers at Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri
∎ No. 3: RetroSpect at Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina
∎ No. 4: Turn It Up! Remix at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida
∎ No. 5: Under the Stars at Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
∎ No. 6: Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom Park, Orlando, Florida
∎ No. 7: Festival of the Lion King at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Orlando, Florida
∎ No. 8: The Bourne Stuntacular at Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, Florida
∎ No. 9: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Orlando, Florida
∎ No. 10: Luminous The Symphony of Us at EPCOT, Orlando, Florida
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Lawsuit: Family Kingdom Swamp Fox roller coaster leaves man paralyzed
