Six Flags says it will install seatbelts on some of its roller coasters after a man fell to his death earlier this month on the Goliath ride in Georgia, US.
In a letter to customers, the company’s CEO, John Reilly, said it was strengthening safety measures across its parks, including installing seatbelts on Goliath and similar rides, which already have lap-bar restraints.
"Safety guides every decision we make, from the design and operation of our attractions to the training and procedures our teams follow every day," the statement reads.
"We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint.
"Safety also depends on the dedicated teams who operate and maintain our attractions every day. Our ride operators complete a comprehensive, multistage training program that includes classroom instruction, hands-on training and supervised, on-the-job experience, with additional instruction and evaluation provided as necessary.
"We remain focused on reinforcing these practices and supporting our employees in their responsibility to put safety first."
Nine rides remain closed
On Monday 12 October, 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem fell to his death after being ejected from his seat on the Goliath coaster. Authorities are investigating the fatal accident.
Six Flags Over Georgia was closed for several days following the incident and reopened on Friday 16 October. Goliath remains closed, and eight additional rides at five other parks are also temporarily closed, according to the operator, out of "an abundance of caution."
Goliath is manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and opened in 2006. It features a 200-foot elevation, a 170-foot plunge, and speeds of up to 70 mph.
Reilly's statement added that Six Flags is committed to ongoing improvement, saying: "We have engaged independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to comprehensively review current safety procedures across our entire portfolio of rides and attractions, across all of our parks.
"We are committed to carefully evaluating their findings and taking appropriate action to further strengthen our standards and culture of safety."
Charlotte Blanco Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
