CAMERA footage has captured the terrifying moment a young girl was saved by a couple after the restraints failed on a roller coaster.
The thrill-seeker’s seatbelt came undone during the first hill of the Mamba ride at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City on October 11.
The ride can reach speeds of up to 75 mph and stands 208 feet at its highest point.
Chris and Cassie Evins, a couple from Missouri and parents of four, were sat in front of the girl when they heard what Chris described as “blood-curdling” screams coming from behind them.
“The shrieks were like I’ve never heard before,” he said, explaining that at first, he “assumed it was her first time on the ride.”
But when he turned around, he realised something was seriously wrong.
“I had looped my arm underneath her lap bar, which had a pretty big gap between her and the lap bar,” Chris told KCTV5.
“So at this point, I’m seeing a huge space, no seatbelt. I looped my arm underneath the lap bar, and I grabbed hold of her wrist.
“My wife was pushing down on her legs.”
The couple, who have season tickets to the park and know the ride well, understood that steep hills and sharp turns were coming that could easily throw the girl from her seat.
“I shifted our positions to, instead of hold her, to push down on her whole body to keep her from coming out of the seat while we’re going over those hills,” Chris said.
Their quick thinking likely saved the girl’s life.
A ride camera – normally used to capture smiling passengers – snapped a chilling image of the rescue.
Chris and Cassie can be seen reaching into the seat behind them as the terrified girl bends forward, panic etched across her face.
Once the ride stopped, the couple immediately reported the incident to park staff.
They were told that the Mamba would be closed for inspection for the rest of the day.
“What if it had been somebody else in our seats? What if it was others, her friends?” Chris said.
“You know, they could have had a drastically different outcome.”
A Worlds of Fun spokesperson later said, “The safety of our guests and team members is a top priority.
“Following the report of a guest concern on the ride several weeks ago, our team immediately closed the ride and completed a thorough inspection before reopening it that evening.
“The ride is equipped with a multi-layered restraint system, with lap bars being the primary restraint. These seat belts serve as a secondary restraint.
“Throughout multiple inspections, there was no evidence of restraint failure in the lap bar system or the buckles on any seat belts during any of the ride inspections and the ride has operated safely since the initial concern was raised.”
The couple were separated from the girl afterward and never had the chance to speak with her or her family, though they said they had tried to reach out.
According to Mike O’Connell, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, the ride’s last inspection had taken place on April 25, and several additional inspections were conducted after the October incident.
One inspection on October 30 found that several seatbelts on the Mamba were not working properly.
The park responded, stating, “On Thursday, the ride underwent a comprehensive safety review by the Fire Marshall.
“Again, the lap bars and buckles were found fully functional, and we implemented slight modifications to a number of seat belts to ensure they met or exceeded all applicable safety standards before the ride opened to guests that evening.”
Despite those assurances, Chris and Cassie say they won’t be returning to the park anytime soon.
FESTIVE FEELS
John Lewis reveals tear-jerker Xmas ad set to nostalgic 90s house track
TRAFFIC CARNAGE
Major motorway shut with TWO-HOUR delays after crash between lorry & van
“We probably won’t go back for a while,” Cassie said.
“We need to see a change, and once we see that change I will be comfortable taking my four children [there] – who I am not comfortable taking currently.”