A man in his 30s died after riding a roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort’s new theme park, Florida authorities said.
The man, who has not been named, was riding the Stardust Racers attraction at Universal’s Epic Universe Wednesday night when he became unresponsive, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando said in a statement.
Emergency personnel were called to the park shortly after 9 p.m., the local NBC affiliate WESH reported.
The man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“We are devastated by this tragic event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones,” a Universal Orlando Resort spokesperson said in a statement.
While Universal did not release many details about the incident, it clarified that the victim did not fall from the ride, WESH reported.
Stardust Racers is described as a “breathtaking dual-launch coaster reaching speeds of up to 62 mph.”
Riders are meant to feel as if they are riding a comet “to the farthest reaches of the stars” while following an inverted crisscross “in a dazzling display of blazing colors and ethereal music.”
Epic Universe, Florida’s newest and largest theme park, opened just before Memorial Day weekend “as one of the most innovative and immersive theme parks ever created.”
It is also the first major theme park to open in Orlando in 25 years.
The park operated during regular hours Thursday, but the ride remained closed.
“We are fully cooperating with Orange County and the ongoing investigation,” park officials said.
A company spokesperson didn’t immediately return a request for comment Thursday afternoon.
With News Wire Services
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