Shocking new CCTV footage has emerged, capturing the moment a woman fell 20ft from a rollercoaster traveling at 60mph, resulting in life-altering injuries.
A trial recently commenced regarding the tragic incident on the Jetline ride at Gröna Lund theme park in Stockholm, which led to the death of a woman in her 30s and injuries to nine others in June 2023. The derailment caused three passengers to be ejected from the carriages onto the ground below. Prosecutors are seeking an 18 million Swedish Krona (£1.4 million) fine against the attraction owners for alleged safety lapses.
Newly-released video footage shows Karin Elmegard’s harrowing fall from the ride, leading to emergency surgery and ongoing struggles in daily activities. Karin mentioned observing an object falling from a preceding cart just before her own fall, inciting panic among passengers. Her husband, Mikael, was trapped in the carriage, afraid she had perished in the accident.
Reflecting on the incident, Ms. Elmegard expressed the emotional toll, stating, “It’s really hard to watch that footage.” She recounted the terrifying experience of plummeting towards the ground and acknowledged the potentially fatal outcome if she had landed on a harder surface.
Mikael hopes the trial will hold the theme park’s management accountable for the incident, describing the traumatic sight of his wife falling from the ride. The Jetline ride at Gröna Lund has remained closed since the tragedy occurred.
Originally inaugurated in 1988, the rollercoaster underwent redevelopment in 1997, adding a steeper drop towards the end of the ride. The attraction offered a thrilling one-and-a-half-minute experience, reaching speeds close to 60mph and subjecting riders to forces of up to 4.5 g.
Gröna Lund and two maintenance companies associated with the ride deny any responsibility for the unfortunate event.