By now, you’ve probably heard about the British guest who lost the tips of two fingers on Pirates of the Caribbean the other day. Not much was originally released on the guest or just how the accident happened at the Magic Kingdom, but there’s more info out now.
The man’s name has still not been released, but emergency officials did say he was a 57-year-old man from the United Kingdom.
Per the Reedy Creek Fire Department, the man was holding onto the outside of the boat while riding Pirates of the Caribbean. The boat was said to have “struck something,” and he lost the tips of the ring and pinkie fingers on his right hand.
He was hospitalized ins table condition. The tips of his two fingers were not recovered.
Yes, you read that correctly. The tips of the man fingers were not recovered from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
Disney Resort spokeswoman Jacquee Wheeler said that the attraction was shut down for a number or hours so it could be inspected. Pirates of the Caribbean was deemed safe and reopened.
Rumors and assumptions have been going around that the guests was going to file a lawsuit against The Disney Company, but no word of that has come out as of yet.
By all accounts, Disney has proof that the attraction was operating safely. Also, there are warning signs posted and verbal warnings given on virtually every Disney attraction that advises guests to keep all hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the ride vehicles/boats.
Don’t go on Pirates of the Caribbean expecting to see some floating fingertips as the filtration system has probably taken care of them by now.
I don’t think Disney has a case to answer to. As the article said there are many verbal and visual warnings about keeping all of your body inside the car/boat at all times. If people choose to ignore the advice given, it’s their problem and theirs alone. That is all.
They ought to bring back that Talking Skull safety warning before the drop though – in this ever increasing age of health and safety, I cannot understand how they justified removing it as it technically reduced the warnings!