Tragic Incident at Disneyland: Visitor Passes Away After Haunted Mansion Ride—Experts Weigh in on Theme Park Safety

A guest at Disneyland needed medical help after riding the Haunted Mansion and sadly passed away in a local hospital. Disneyland has confirmed the incident but hasn’t provided further details.

Influencer Matt Desmond reported that the woman, in her 60s, experienced a heart attack during the Haunted Mansion Holiday ride and didn’t respond when it was time to exit. Anaheim police said emergency responders found her unresponsive around 6:30 p.m. Security staff performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Unfortunately, she was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner is currently investigating.

Despite the tragedy, there are no signs of any issues with the ride itself, which reopened shortly after. “This seems to be a medical episode,” police stated, extending condolences to the family.

The Haunted Mansion ride is known for its gentle pace, transporting guests in “doom buggies” at about one mile per hour. Dennis Speigel, a theme park expert, noted that rides like this are designed for all ages and usually don’t cause serious medical incidents. “You’d expect something unexpected to happen elsewhere, not on this ride,” he remarked.

In fact, incidents at theme parks are quite rare. For instance, a 32-year-old man recently passed away on a roller coaster at Universal Studios in Orlando, highlighting that while accidents can happen, they are not typical. Speigel emphasized that major parks, like Disneyland, undergo regular safety checks. According to California’s Department of Industrial Relations, safety inspections occur frequently to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Overall, while this incident is tragic, experts suggest that theme parks are generally safe. Comparing the risk of riding a roller coaster to driving on crowded highways, Speigel argues that enjoying these attractions is still much safer.

For more on safety regulations in theme parks, you can check the California Department of Industrial Relations here.

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