A 49-year-old man was airlifted to a hospital after suffering fractures to both legs on a Batman-themed roller coaster in Spain. He remained hospitalized in serious condition on Sunday.
The incident happened Saturday, Aug. 29, on Batman: Gotham City Escape at Parque Warner Madrid. The theme park is located in San Martín de la Vega, just outside Madrid.
Emergency officials said the man suffered an open fracture to his left leg and a closed fracture to his right leg. He was treated at the park before a SUMMA 112 helicopter flew him to Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre.
The park immediately stopped the roller coaster and blocked off the surrounding area. Batman: Gotham City Escape remained closed Aug. 31 while the park and Civil Guard continued investigating what happened.
The Ride Stopped Immediately
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Parque Warner said the ride stopped immediately and activated its emergency procedures. The man received some medical care before he was flown to the hospital.
Visitors were cleared from the area while emergency crews worked. Nearby shops and restaurants also temporarily closed, but the rest of the park continued operating as usual.
Investigators Have Not Found a Harness Problem
The exact cause of the incident has not been determined. However, preliminary information from the Civil Guard suggests that the man may have fainted during the ride.
Telemadrid reported that investigators believe he was then jostled and struck parts of the coaster, causing the fractures. The Civil Guard said it had not found a problem with the harness or the park’s safety measures.
The park and the Civil Guard’s judicial police are continuing to investigate.
The Coaster Reaches About 65 MPH
Batman: Gotham City Escape opened in 2023. The ride has three launches, four inversions and lasts 111 seconds.
According to the park’s website, the coaster reaches approximately 65 mph and climbs 148 feet. Parque Warner has not announced when it will reopen.