by Kansas City, Missouri — A Missouri couple is being hailed as heroes after their quick actions saved a young girl’s life when her seatbelt came undone mid-ride on the Mamba roller coaster at Worlds of Fun amusement park on October 11.
The Terrifying Moment on the Mamba
What was meant to be a thrilling ride quickly turned into a nightmare. Chris and Cassie Evins, a married couple and season ticket holders at the park, had just boarded the Mamba roller coaster when they heard a “blood-curdling scream” from behind them.
“We get on the roller coaster and the very first hill, the girl sitting behind my wife just lets out this blood-curdling scream like I’ve never heard before,” Chris Evins recalled in an interview with KCTV5.
At first, Chris thought the girl was simply scared of the high-speed ride — until she shouted that her seatbelt had come undone.
Couple’s Heroic Reaction
Without hesitation, the couple sprang into action. As the roller coaster raced along its track at speeds of up to 75 mph, they reached behind to hold the girl in place.
“I looped my arm underneath her lap bar, which had a pretty big gap between her and the lap bar. So at this point, I’m seeing a huge space, no seatbelt,” Chris Evins said. “I grabbed her wrist while my wife was pushing down on her legs.”
Their combined effort kept the girl from being thrown from the ride.
“As we crested each hill, I recognized that it was going to lift her out of her seat,” he continued. “So I kind of shifted our positions to push down on her whole body to keep her from coming out.”
Close Call Captured on Camera
A photo captured by the ride’s camera showed the girl screaming in terror as the Evins couple desperately held her down. Despite the panic, they managed to keep her secure until the roller coaster came to a stop.
“My whole thought after the incident is, what if it had been somebody else in our seats?” Chris said. “You know, they could have had a drastically different outcome.”
The couple was separated from the girl and her family after the ride ended but said they were simply relieved she survived.
Park and State Response
Worlds of Fun immediately shut down the Mamba following the incident and conducted a comprehensive safety inspection.
“The ride has undergone a comprehensive safety review, and we have implemented modifications requested by the Fire Marshal to ensure it meets or exceeds all applicable safety standards before it reopens to guests,” a park spokesperson said.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety confirmed that the Mamba had passed an inspection on April 25, but a spot inspection on October 30 led to another temporary shutdown. After repairs and reinspection, the ride was cleared to operate again.
A Narrow Escape and a Reminder
The Evins family’s quick thinking prevented what could have been a tragic accident. Their courage serves as a reminder of how fast amusement park safety issues can escalate — and how vigilance can make all the difference.
As for the girl, her name has not been released, but she is believed to have escaped without injury thanks to the couple’s immediate response.
What Do You Think?
Do you believe amusement park rides should have stricter safety inspections or new safety mechanisms to prevent accidents like this?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
