For a mother and daughter duo from Arizona, a fun day at SeaWorld in San Diego took a terrifying turn.
Sarina Higgins told Fox News Digital it all started when she decided to ride the Electric Eel rollercoaster during a trip on July 9.
She said her daughter’s shoulder straps were dangling in front of her when the ride reached the first “upside-down section.”
“I happened to open my eyes and my daughter was hanging upside down with the strap dangling in front of her face and she started crying,” Higgins said, “so I grabbed the strap and held on and we both screamed and hung on for the rest of the ride.”
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Sarina Higgins was all smiles with her daughter during a trip to SeaWorld in San Diego on July 9. (Sarina Higgins)
The ride lasted less than a minute, but she said it was “the longest 47 seconds of my life.”
Higgins said she told an attendant what happened after the ride was over and felt the attendant didn’t take her concerns seriously. She then reported her concerns to guest services.
Higgins said she was told to read the disclaimer posted outside the ride, which she took a photo of and provided to Fox News Digital.
“Please hold on tight and remain seated with comfort collar fastened at all times during the ride,” one sign read.
The other states that the comfort strap is “designed for comfort only.”
Higgins said after several interactions with SeaWorld officials, she and her family were escorted off the premises by security.
Sarina Higgins took a photo of the seats and disclaimer outside the Electric Eel roller coaster at San Diego SeaWorld. (Sarina Higgins)
“This was a gross negligence on SeaWorld’s part,” Higgins argued. “Are we going to be scarred for life? No, but it doesn’t give us any peace of mind knowing that this is happening and that it could happen to someone else.”
Higgins tells her story On social media So she shared a video taken by her niece that captured the exact moment the strap came loose.
The video has been viewed 8.5 million times on social media.
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The sign reads, “Please hold on tightly and remain seated with the comfort collar fastened at all times during the ride.” (Sarina Higgins)
Higgins said she was offered a free return pass to SeaWorld after the incident, a refund for the ticket she originally purchased and ultimately a $1,000 payment, but she declined.
The California Department of Occupational Safety and Health told Fox News Digital it is investigating the incident.
In a statement to local NBC television station, Seaward maintained that he takes safety very seriously and that there were no safety concerns during the ride.
“All rides and attractions, including Electric Eel, are designed, operated and inspected daily in accordance with all applicable standards and manufacturer specifications. The ‘harness’ the family refers to is called a ‘comfort collar’ and is intended for passenger comfort and is not a restraint device,” the company said.
Sarina Higgins said the family was on a trip to SeaWorld San Diego when the strap on her daughter’s seat failed while they were riding a rollercoaster, leading to a frightening experience. (Sarina Higgins)
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SeaWorld said the coaster’s only restraints consist of knee and shin pads and that these remain secure.
The company said signs at the entrance to the ride state that the comfort collars are “for rider comfort only.”
Fox News Digital reached out to SeaWorld San Diego for further comment but did not immediately receive a response.
“There’s absolutely no ‘comfort’ to be found in seeing a ‘comfort strap’ hanging upside down 150 feet off the ground!,” Higgins told Fox News Digital. “The metal clasp on the end of the comfort strap could have fallen off and posed a risk to a 10-year-old child in the face!”
