A visitor at a Universal Orlando theme park died after riding a duelling roller coaster modeled after a shooting star.
The man in his 30s became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe in Florida on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for the park.
He was found by off-duty deputies Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who responded to a call for a ‘man down’.
The guest was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
‘We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones,’ stated the Universal spokesperson.
‘We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation.’
The man’s identity and how he died were not immediately known.
The District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office was set to perform an autopsy on Thursday.
Stardust Racers was closed on Thursday.
The ride offers the chance to ‘ride a shooting star across the cosmos’, according to the Universal Orlando Resort website.
‘Share a race across the cosmos on Stardust Racers, a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph,’ states the page.
‘Board a comet and rocket to the furthest reaches of the stars, at heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track.
‘Race along an inverted crisscross, known as the “Celestial Spin” in a dazzling display of blazing colors and ethereal music.’
Epic Universe opened in May and is Universal Orlando’s third theme park.
It is the latest death at a theme park in Orlando.
In May 2024, a 13-year-old British girl died while snorkelling at Discovery Cove. Anna Beaumont was found unresponsive in a natural-style pool that has ‘shallow and deeper areas, coral reefs, rocky structures and wildlife’. She was taken to a hospital and died the following day.
And in September 2020, a worker at ICON Park doing a routine safety check on the StarFlyer swing ride plunged 200ft to his death.
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