Couple saved girl’s life after hearing her ‘blood-curdling scream’ during roller coaster ride
A ride camera photo showed the girl screaming in terror as the Evinses held her in place on the fast-moving coaster. KCTV 5
A Missouri couple is being praised for their quick action after saving a young girl whose seatbelt came undone in the middle of a high-speed roller coaster ride.
The terrifying incident took place on October 11 at Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City. Chris and Cassie Evins were on board the park’s Mamba roller coaster when they suddenly heard a scream that sent chills down their spines.
“We got on the roller coaster, and on the very first hill, the girl sitting behind my wife let out this blood-curdling scream like I’ve never heard before,” Chris Evins told KCTV5. “At first, I thought she was just scared because it was her first time on the ride — but then she shouted, ‘My seatbelt came undone!’”
Realizing the danger, the Evinses immediately sprang into action as the coaster sped along the track at up to 75 miles per hour.
“I looped my arm underneath her lap bar — there was a pretty big gap between her and the bar — and grabbed her wrist to hold her down,” Chris said. “My wife was pushing on her legs to keep her from lifting out of the seat.”
As longtime season ticket holders, the couple knew every twist and drop on the Mamba. That familiarity helped them anticipate when to brace the girl as the train crested each hill.
“As we went over the top of each hill, I could feel her starting to lift, so we shifted from just holding her to pressing down on her whole body to keep her in her seat,” Chris explained.
The couple managed to keep the young rider safe until the coaster came to a stop. A photo taken during the ride showed the girl screaming in terror as the Evinses held her in place.
“My thought afterward was — what if it had been someone else sitting there? What if nobody had reacted?” Chris said. “It could have ended very differently.”
In the confusion that followed, the couple didn’t get a chance to speak with the girl or her family but said they were just grateful she was safe.
Worlds of Fun confirmed that the Mamba was immediately shut down after the incident and underwent a full safety inspection.
“The ride has undergone a comprehensive safety review,” the park said in a statement. “We’ve implemented modifications requested by the Fire Marshal to ensure it meets or exceeds all safety standards before reopening.”
The Missouri Department of Public Safety also confirmed that the ride had passed an inspection earlier this year, on April 25.
About Post Author
