You may remember the shocking story of Shylah Rodden, the 29-year-old who was hit by a rollercoaster train at the Royal Melbourne Show in 2022.
She had climbed onto the tracks to retrieve her mobile phone, which she had dropped while riding the Rebel Coaster. The incident left her with life-changing injuries.
The Lawsuit
Now, Shylah is taking legal action against Chant Amusements Pty Ltd, the company that operated the ride. She’s alleging negligence and breach of duty of care, and is seeking damages to cover her loss of earnings for the rest of her life. Her litigation guardian, Kylie Rodden, has lodged a writ and statement of claim with the County Court of Victoria.
The Accident
Shylah’s accident was a terrifying one. After realizing she had dropped her phone, she alerted staff and left the ride enclosure. But then, she returned to try to retrieve her phone herself while the ride was still in operation. That’s when disaster struck. A train cart collided with her, carrying her up the rollercoaster before she fell from a height of around 9 meters.
The Injuries
The extent of Shylah’s injuries is staggering. She suffered fractures to her skull, brain hemorrhage, injuries to her arteries, abdominal injuries, damage to her liver and small bowel, and multiple broken bones. She also experienced psychological trauma.
The Allegations
Shylah’s legal team alleges that the ride operator breached its duty of care to her. They claim that the company was negligent in several ways, including:
- Not having sufficient staff on the arrival platform
- Not having an adequate system in place to prevent unauthorized access to the track area
- Failing to have adequate fencing to prevent access to the track area
- Not properly instructing patrons to remove valuables before using the ride
- Failing to stop Shylah from entering the track area while the ride was in operation
The Claim
Shylah’s lawyer, Sharlene Mehta, says that the claim is for damages suffered by Shylah as a result of the incident. At the time of the accident, Shylah was studying for a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and was unemployed. She’s now studying for a Certificate IV in Community Services. Unfortunately, her injuries mean she has no current work capacity, which is likely to continue indefinitely.
WorkSafe Investigation
A WorkSafe investigation into the incident concluded in July 2024 with no action taken against the ride operator. However, Shylah’s legal team is determined to hold the company accountable for their alleged negligence.