An Australian woman’s recent harrowing experience on an amusement park ride has left her foot in an excruciatingly painful condition. Pippa Sutherland, a 22-year-old TikTok user, shared a video of the incident that occurred on the Slingshot Surfers Paradise attraction last month, and it has since gone viral with over 5 million views.
In the video, Sutherland can be seen sitting in the ride alongside a friend as it returns to its starting position. However, a horrifying turn of events unfolds as her left foot becomes entangled with a metal stopper. She cries out in pain as the seat continues to move forward, and her friends react with shock and concern. Sutherland’s foot appears to bend in an unnatural and agonizing direction as she endures the traumatic experience.
In a follow-up video, Sutherland can be seen being wheeled in a hospital chair, limping and in visible pain, with her foot wrapped. She expressed her surprise that her foot was “still in one piece” after the incident, adding in a comment that she suffered from “sprained toes” as a result.
Responding to a comment requesting to see the footage, she posted the longer video along with a caption explaining that she doesn’t frequently go on rides and that they were not instructed to keep their legs in a specific position. She emphasized that her foot was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and that it was not resting on the stopper.
While some viewers suggested taking legal action, Sutherland clarified that she had no intention of suing, emphasizing that the staff had been compassionate and apologetic about the incident.
The two videos combined have garnered over 9 million views since being posted last month, igniting discussions about ride safety and the need for changes to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Slingshot Surfers Paradise, the amusement park ride operator, has yet to provide an official statement regarding the incident. Their website describes the Slingshot ride as one of the most exhilarating experiences, propelling riders into the air at speeds of up to 160 km/hour (approximately 100 mph). The ride’s safety information indicates that it involves weightlessness, rapid side-to-side movements, and rapidly changing forces, with specific weight and height requirements for riders.
