SAN DIEGO — SeaWorld’s Electric Eel rollercoaster remains closed after a man was injured on the ride last Friday.
Since then, many park-goers have voiced their concerns about the safety of the ride online.
“It wasn’t fun, it was a very scary, very scary experience," said rider, Fernando Garcia.
Garcia says he and his family took a trip to the theme park late last year. He says his excitement quickly turned into worry once he was strapped in.
“I noticed that the shoulder straps were frayed more than half way on both sides and that rollercoaster goes upside down pretty slow. So, I was concerned that, you know, is it going to hold me? Is it going to break?" continued Garcia.
Before taking off, he asked a worker if his straps were 'OK'. He was told that there was nothing to worry about.
“It was the scariest ride I’ve ever had. I had to hold myself up with my legs, when the ride was going upside down I’d squeeze as hard as I could to hold myself," Garcia said.
His concerns come after a man in his 20s was hurt during the ride this month.
The San Diego Fire Department confirmed the man was taken to the hospital. The extent of his injuries is not known at this time, but the agency says he suffered acute trauma injuries.
Dozens of visitors voiced their concerns online.
One user said they too had a terrifying experience after they noticed their seat belt straps were also frayed and ripped. They go on to say that they immediately told a ride operator who allowed the ride to continue.
Another person added, “the belt is not actually what’s holding you in, it’s the back up for the restraint. However she [the ride operator] should have taken it more seriously.”
Garcia says, he too, wants the park to do more to address safety concerns.
“If they see something like a strap that holds a rider down, make sure it's repaired or reported or the ride stopped. Just to fix everything on the coaster,” he added.
CBS 8 reached out to SeaWorld about the riders' complaints but have not heard back.
The Electric Eel ride was temporarily shut down while the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health investigates what happened.
Cal/OSHA says the investigation could take up to six months.
There was no time frame for when the theme park plans to reopen the ride.
WATCH RELATED: SeaWorld's 'Electric Eel' rollercoaster closed after person sustained leg injury (June 2023).