SeaWorld Roller Coaster Ride Takes Horrifying Turn After Alleged Employee Safety Failure
A SeaWorld guest claims a roller coaster ride left him with life-changing injuries.
SeaWorld is best known for its marine animals, but thrill rides have become an increasingly important part of its theme parks. Across its U.S. properties, the company operates high-speed roller coasters, water attractions, and family rides.
SeaWorld San Antonio is home to some of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in Texas. Its lineup includes Texas Stingray, The Great White, Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster, and Steel Eel, a 150-foot-tall attraction that has operated since 1999.
The latter has now become the subject of a federal lawsuit, with one rider accusing SeaWorld of negligence following an incident that allegedly caused serious back injuries.
SeaWorld Faces Legal Action Over Alleged Safety Mistake
On September 1, 2026, Sterling Kelly filed a lawsuit against SeaWorld of Texas, LLC, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
The complaint concerns a visit to SeaWorld San Antonio on June 10, 2025, when Kelly was accompanied by his grandson.
According to KSAT, Kelly claims he sustained serious injuries while riding Steel Eel, a roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 65 mph and features 3,700 feet of track.
The ride is designed around a series of steep drops and hills, including an initial 150-foot descent. Unlike roller coasters featuring inversions, Steel Eel relies on changes in elevation to deliver moments of weightlessness.
Kelly’s lawsuit alleges that the ride became dangerous after a SeaWorld employee improperly adjusted his safety restraint.
According to the complaint, the employee initially positioned Kelly’s lap bar too tightly. Kelly complained about the restraint, prompting the employee to loosen it.
However, Kelly alleges that the employee loosened the bar excessively, leaving him insufficiently secured as the roller coaster departed the station.
As Steel Eel traveled through its drops and turns, Kelly claims he was repeatedly thrown around in his seat. During the ride, he allegedly heard “popping and cracking in his back” and experienced immediate pain.
The situation reportedly worsened when the roller coaster returned to the station.
Kelly claims he was unable to exit the ride vehicle independently because of his injuries. According to the lawsuit, SeaWorld employees had to assist him.
The complaint alleges that Kelly sustained severe personal injuries, including permanent bodily impairment. He is also seeking compensation for ongoing medical expenses and loss of earning capacity.
Kelly has requested a jury trial and is seeking exemplary damages, alleging that SeaWorld acted with conscious indifference to the safety risks involved.
The allegations have not been proven in court. As of October 8, SeaWorld San Antonio had not responded to KSAT’s request for comment.
Previous Roller Coaster Injuries Reported at SeaWorld
Steel Eel has operated at SeaWorld San Antonio for more than 27 years. Manufactured by D.H. Morgan Manufacturing, the roller coaster opened on March 6, 1999, and remains the tallest coaster at the park.
The attraction accommodates up to 36 passengers per train and has a minimum height requirement of 48 inches.
SeaWorld’s official website currently lists Steel Eel as temporarily closed. The park has not publicly linked that closure to Kelly’s lawsuit, and there is no indication that the legal action prompted the attraction’s closure.
The roller coaster has also appeared in previous injury reports filed with the Texas Department of Insurance.
On August 30, 2025, a 35-year-old man reported neck pain following an unexpected muscular movement while riding Steel Eel.
Other attractions at SeaWorld San Antonio have been associated with reported injuries over the years.
In September 2023, a 47-year-old man reported lower back pain following a turn on Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster. Two months earlier, a 20-year-old man reportedly struck his head against a side bar while riding The Great White.
These reports do not necessarily indicate that the attractions malfunctioned or that SeaWorld violated safety regulations.
Elsewhere, SeaWorld Orlando faced a separate lawsuit in October 2025 after a guest claimed she was struck in the face by a duck while riding Mako.
Hillary Martin alleged that the collision knocked her unconscious and caused facial injuries. A judge dismissed the complaint in January 2026.
SeaWorld San Antonio continues to operate a broad selection of attractions alongside its roller coasters, including Catapult Falls, Journey to Atlantis, Rio Loco, and Tidal Surge.
The Texas park also offers animal presentations and encounters featuring orcas, beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins, penguins, and sea lions.
Have you ever experienced Steel Eel at SeaWorld San Antonio?
