Universal Orlando Resort is facing a lawsuit after a man from Guatemala died after riding Skull Island: Reign of Kong. The family said that their father suffered a fatal heart attack after riding. U.S. News stated, “Jose Calderon Arana, who had prior heart problems, didn’t speak English and his family said in a wrongful death lawsuit filed this month that Universal was negligent by not displaying warning signs in Spanish.”
“Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said in an email that the theme park resort doesn’t comment on pending litigation. The official blog of Universal Orlando Resort has Spanish and Portuguese translations.”
“The family’s personal injury attorney, Lou Pendas, said it’s not unreasonable to have ride warning signs in English, Spanish and French so visitors can make informed decisions about whether they should go on the ride. Orlando was the most visited U.S. destination in 2017.”
The article says that they reached out to Walt Disney World and SeaWorld to see if their thrill rides have warnings other than just English. Disney didn’t reply but SeaWorld stated that they do in fact have warnings in Spanish and Portuguese.
In the lawsuit it says that Calderon Arana didn’t feel well after going on the King Kong themed ride and his wife thought he had an upset stomach. Arana sat on a bench and then later collapsed, he was then taken to a hospital where he later died.
A sign at the entrance of the ride says in English, “Warning! This ride is an expedition through the rough terrain of King Kong’s natural habitat. The movement of the truck is dynamic with sudden accelerations, dramatic tilting and jarring actions.” It warns that people with heart conditions or abnormal blood pressure, back or neck conditions, and expectant mothers shouldn’t go on the ride. Besides the English text, each of the situations has an accompanying drawing.
While there is no settlement yet I wouldn’t be surprised to see new signs added throughout the theme parks.
Information is from U.S. News found here. Pictures are our own.
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