Missouri Couple Saves Girl on Roller Coaster

A couple from Missouri is being celebrated for their quick actions that saved a girl when her seatbelt came undone on a roller coaster.

This tense moment unfolded on October 11 at the World of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, where Chris and Kathy Evins decided to take a spin on the Mamba roller coaster. A report from KCTV5 detailed the incident.

“As we ascended the first hill, the girl behind my wife let out a scream that was just, well, chilling,” Chris recalled. Initially, Kathy thought it was just the girl experiencing the thrill of her first ride.

“She exclaimed that her seatbelt had come off,” Chris remembered, noting the girl’s panic.

Without missing a beat, as the coaster hit its top speed of 125 mph, the couple sprang into action, reaching back to help secure the distressed girl in her seat.

“There was a significant gap between her and the lap bar. It looked pretty unsafe,” Chris explained. He positioned his arm under the lap bar, while Kathy pushed down on the girl’s legs.

As regular visitors to the park, the Evins had a good sense of how the Mamba twisted and turned, which aided them in stabilizing the girl.

“With each ascent, I could tell it was pulling her from her seat,” Chris noted. “So rather than just holding her, I made sure to push her down to prevent her from falling.” They succeeded in keeping her safe until the ride came to a stop.

Photos captured by the ride’s camera showed the frightened girl’s expressions as the couple did their best to keep her secure.

“Afterward, I kept thinking, what if someone else had been in our seats? What if it had been her friend?” Chris shared.

Post-ride, in the ensuing chaos, the couple lost track of the girl and were unable to connect with her family, but they felt relieved that she was unharmed.

“It could have been a dramatically different outcome,” Chris added.

Following the incident, World of Fun promptly shut down the ride for a thorough inspection. A spokesperson confirmed that the Mamba had undergone a detailed safety review, incorporating necessary modifications suggested by the fire department. The attraction was deemed safe to reopen later that evening.

Additionally, the Missouri Department of Public Safety revealed that the Mamba had been tested on April 25, but the ride was closed for a surprise inspection on October 30. It was rechecked that afternoon after repairs and was approved to resume operations.