Tucson family details mid-ride scare on SeaWorld San Diego roller coaster

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - A Tucson mother and her 10-year-old daughter are warning families traveling to SeaWorld San Diego this summer about their terrifying experience on the “Electric Eel” roller coaster last week.

Salina Higgins claims the “comfort strap” on her daughter Ariella’s seat became loose mid-ride and said park staff did not do enough to address their concerns.

“It was horribly scary,” Higgins said. “It’s a 47-second ride, and it felt like it was five hours just to get back down.”

Higgins explained that once they got to the coaster’s highest point and turned upside down, Ariella began to scream because her seat belt was “flying in front of her face.”

The family claims a video filmed by Salina’s niece, which has now been seen on social media seven million times, shows the straps flying in the air.

Petrified, Salina said she held Ariella’s straps until the ride ended. She frantically alerted ride operators about what happened but said nothing was done.

“They immediately loaded people back on that ride,” Higgins said.

That’s when Salina said they immediately took their concerns to guest services. She said the employees with guest services apologized and offered her four free tickets, but she wanted more to be done.

“I just wanted them to take some safety precautions,” Higgins said. “Stop the ride for two seconds, check the straps... maybe do one safety run. That’s not asking a lot.”

“If this ride’s going 62 miles per hour, flipping upside down doing multiple turns, what’s not to say that comfort collar doesn’t come up and that metal clasp strikes her in the face,” she said.

She felt like her voice wasn’t heard, so Salina asked to speak with a manager. That’s when the manager asked if they had read the ride’s disclaimer.

In a statement to 13 News from SeaWorld San Diego, it reads in part quote, “The “harness” this family is referencing is called a “comfort collar,” which is intended for the rider’s comfort and is not a restraining device. The lap bar and shin bar are the only restraining devices on the coaster, and they remained securely in place throughout the entire ride. Signage at the ride’s entrance indicates that the comfort collar is for rider comfort only.”

In photos taken by the family, you can see where the disclaimer at the entrance of the ride goes on to read: “Both the comfort collar and lap restraint are required to be secured before the train can be dispatched.” Another sign reads: “Hold on tight and remain seated with the comfort collar secured at all times during the ride.”

“When I read that to him, he literally said I could call the phone number on the website for further help and asked security to escort us out,” Higgins said.

Salina wants to know why they were escorted out of the park for asking questions. She said that moving forward, she just wants SeaWorld employees to be less dismissive of people’s concerns.

“The driving force is just purely spreading awareness at this point and trying to keep other family members safe,” Higgins said.

The “Electric Eel” has faced public scrutiny before. Last year, it was shut down after a person sustained a leg injury. A month later, the ride reopened with physical and procedural safety changes.

SeaWorld San Diego’s complete statement to 13 News on this matter reads quote:

“We take safety very seriously and understand that this guest perceived a risk that caused her concern. There was not, however, a safety issue during the ride. All rides and attractions, including Electric Eel, are designed, operated and inspected daily in accordance with all applicable standards and manufacturer specifications.

The “harness” this family is referencing is called a “comfort collar,” which is intended for the rider’s comfort and is not a restraining device. The lap bar and shin bar are the only restraining devices on the coaster, and they remained securely in place throughout the entire ride. Signage at the entrance of the ride indicates that the comfort collar is for rider comfort only.”

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