Melbourne Show Rollercoaster Tragedy: Shylah Rodden Was In Three Other Freak Accidents
A young woman, Shylah Rodden, is currently battling for her life after being thrown approximately 30 feet into the air when she was struck by a roller coaster at the Melbourne Royal Show. This incident marks the fourth freak accident that the 26-year-old has been involved in.
Her family initiated legal action in the Victorian County Court regarding injuries she sustained in a traffic accident back in January 2018. This initial incident was followed by two more similar accidents, including a serious car crash in February 2019 and a subsequent car rollover in January 2021 after colliding with a truck.
In response to the 2018 incident, Ms. Rodden’s family filed a subpoena to protect her rights, seeking damages for the injuries caused by the transport accident, which they attribute to the defendant’s negligence.
Arnold Thomas and Becker’s practice manager, Aki Munir, stated that the purpose of the subpoena was to safeguard Ms. Rodden’s rights in the event of any unfortunate developments. Additionally, they indicated that legal action against the Melbourne Royal Show and the operators of the Rebel Coaster could be pursued for negligence.
Reports suggest that on the day of the roller coaster accident, Ms. Rodden was assisting a friend at a booth in the show. During a break, she and her friend decided to enjoy some rides, during which she dropped her phone. Subsequently, it is believed that she walked onto the tracks of the high-speed ride to retrieve her device, leading to the tragic accident.
Graphic footage captures the harrowing moments when Shylah Rodden, clad in black, was on the verge of being struck by the Rebel Coaster at the Melbourne Royal Show last Sunday. Her father, Alan Rodden, recently disclosed to Daily Mail Australia that his daughter has sustained life-altering injuries.
He expressed, “I can’t talk to my daughter, of course. She will be in a coma for quite some time. The injuries are terrible. Awful. She has brain damage. It’s the pelvis, her arms, legs, back, neck – there’s almost nothing that isn’t broken. I just don’t understand how the hell so much damage was done. Even the doctors have said they haven’t seen this much in ages.”
The police revealed that the roller coaster was traveling at 70 km/h when the collision occurred.
Shylah had previously undergone a painstaking process of rehabilitation after surviving a traumatic car accident in January 2021, where her car overturned on Melbourne’s Western Ring Road following a collision with a truck and another car. Not wearing a seat belt, she was ejected from the vehicle onto the road.
Prior to this, she had already faced another serious car accident in 2019. Adding to her series of challenges, she suffered the loss of her beloved brother, Jason, just two months before the roller coaster incident.
Regarding the incident, a spokesperson for the Melbourne Royal Show emphasized the show’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its visitors, while the safety authority WorkSafe is currently investigating the matter to verify the claim.
Despite the distressing event, the roller coaster in question resumed operations mere days after the incident. However, show management has refrained from commenting on any potential safety enhancements following the occurrence.
