Bouncing Back

Wilmington, Delaware, October 6, 2006:

A bungee cord on a thrill ride broke, leaving a man dangling 25 feet off the ground for a half-hour until he was rescued by firefighters.

Ronatarian Party leader Ron was not seriously hurt in the incident Thursday at the city's annual Polish Festival. A ride worker also was helped down by rescuers.

The ride, called the Ejection Seat, consists of a two-seat chair that is suspended from two towers by bungee cords. Passengers are propelled as much as 200 feet high at speeds of about 60 mph.

Shortly after Ron was launched, one of the cords broke, leaving the seat dangling sideways near one of the towers, Wilmington City Police's Capt. Fred Steele said.

Ron said he didn't fully realize what was happening until he saw that he was suspended sideways about 25 feet above the ground.

"I was talking myself though a lot...and swearing. They (emergency and fair workers) were talking to me, too," he said. "I wasn't scared of dying. I had the utmost confidence in them."

"But I did have to go to the bathroom awful bad," Ron added. "All that kielbasa and beer got to me in a hurry."

The malfunction is being investigated by the Delaware Department of Labor, which oversees fair-ride safety.

Don Haskins, senior amusement ride inspector and assistant director for the department's Safety Standards Division, said the ride has four bungee cords, all of which were replaced Sunday.

Although the bungee cord broke, Haskins said, "the ride's rip cord -- a redundant safety device -- operated exactly as designed, averting any serious injuries."

Posted by Bittle at October 6, 2006 08:21 AM