In a heart-stopping incident, a 6-year-old boy named Cesar Moreno plummeted 40 feet from a zipline at Parque Fundidora’s Amazonian Expedition in Nuevo León, Mexico. According to the New York Post, the boy’s harness broke on June 25, causing the terrifying fall. Miraculously, Cesar fell into a pool beneath the zipline, and a compassionate stranger promptly came to his aid, helping him out of the water. Fortunately, the boy sustained only minor injuries, as reported by the news outlet. As authorities in Nuevo León investigate the incident, several attractions at the park have been temporarily closed by government agencies.
The incident highlights the potential dangers associated with ziplines. A study conducted by the American Journal of Emergency Medicine in 2015 revealed that the rate of zipline injuries was 11.64 per 1 million population, compared to a much lower rate of 0.0127 injuries per 1 million population for amusement park rides in the United States, according to Robson Forensic data
According to Nataly Moreno, the sister of Cesar Moreno, a kind stranger bravely jumped into the lake to save her brother after his fall, risking their own safety in the process. Nataly’s other brother and her boyfriend also assisted in getting them out of the water, as reported by Daily Mail. However, Nataly expressed her frustration, stating that the park did not have enough trained staff members present to provide help during the incident.
She stated, “The park does not have people trained for this type of situation; none were there to help get him out of the water. Terrible park, it’s incredible how disastrous things can happen in the blink of an eye. I only thank God that my Cesar is well.”
Another family member, Mayra Hernández, shared that the park employees lacked swimming skills. As reported by the New York Post, Mayra expressed her concern, saying, “Thanks to the fact that we were close, we were able to get him to safety since a relative jumped in to get him out of the water. Due to the poor training of the staff, everything could have been worse. The harness burst in the middle of the ride!”
In response to the incident, the amusement park made an announcement on Monday stating that several attractions, including the zipline, have been temporarily shut down. The company responsible for operating the zipline is currently under review, as reported by Daily Mail.
The park’s management issued a statement, of which a translation was published by Daily Mail. It read, “In this park’s new era, the priority is the experience and safety of our visitors. So, we will continue to implement the necessary measures to guarantee that the companies rigorously comply with their contracts.” The statement also mentioned that the park management will maintain communication with the child’s family to offer “institutional support” and address all matters related to the situation.
Nuevo León Civil Protection has released a statement confirming that the boy, Cesar, emerged from the incident unharmed and was able to exit the park accompanied by his family, as reported by Daily Mail. However, the family has made allegations that Cesar has experienced mental health challenges following the traumatic event.
According to Cesar’s brother, his physical injuries were minor as a result of the fall. However, he expressed concerns about Cesar’s psychological well-being, stating that he is now “psychologically damaged” and filled with fear after the zipline incident, as mentioned in the New York Post.
One reader wondered, “First of all, who would put a 6-year-old on a zip line that high!? Aren’t there age restrictions for those types of activities!?” Another commenter expressed disbelief, stating, “Seriously? What on earth is a SIX-year-old child doing on a zip line, anywhere? What is wrong with parents these days? SMH.”
There were also remarks about the potential risks associated with zip lines in general. A commenter noted, “Zip line accidents can happen anywhere and it does. Even if you don’t fall off, you can break bones, get sprains and bruises. It is not as safe. Hope the boy does well.”
Furthermore, some readers were perplexed by the fact that the harness broke under the weight of a 6-year-old. One user questioned, “I hope this young boy will survive and recover fully. How does a zip line harness ‘break’ from the mere load of a small 6-year-old boy unless it was not properly secured to the trolley or had defective or seriously worn-out components?”
In light of this incident, it is crucial for amusement parks and adventure attractions to prioritize the safety and well-being of their visitors, particularly when it comes to age restrictions and proper equipment maintenance. Implementing thorough safety protocols, regularly inspecting equipment, and ensuring staff members are adequately trained can help prevent such accidents from occurring in the future. It is essential for both park management and regulatory authorities to thoroughly investigate this incident and take necessary actions to prevent similar incidents from happening again. By learning from these incidents, we can strive to create safer environments for everyone to enjoy thrilling experiences with peace of mind. DO NOT FORGET TO TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT!