Horrific footage captures rollercoaster tragedy as family slams ride decision
New details have emerged about the horrific rollercoaster incident that left Melbourne woman Shylah Rodden fighting for her life in hospital as video footage circulates appearing to capture the moment she was hit.
The 26-year-old was working at the Royal Melbourne Show when it's believed she climbed onto the track to retrieve her phone, but she was hit by an oncoming carriage sending her nine metres into the air.
Following the tragic accident, the ride was shut down as WorkSafe Victoria investigated, with help from Victoria Police.
Although investigations are still ongoing, Royal Melbourne Show confirmed "the ride is safe," according to a statement shared by media.
"(The ride) may be reopened from Tuesday [yesterday]," they added.
But Ms Rodden's family slammed the decision to reopen the ride so soon, telling Seven News they're "saddened and appalled".
Video shows horrific moment woman gets hit
The horrific accident left Ms Rodden with brain damage and multiple broken bones including her pelvis, arms, legs, back and neck, her dad Alan Rodden previously revealed. She remains in a coma.
Show staff reportedly confirmed to the Herald Sun Ms Rodden snuck inside a fenced-off area to retrieve her dropped phone despite being told workers would stop the ride and fetch it for her.
A video shared to TikTok on Tuesday and shared by Seven News reportedly shows the woman inside the safety railing moments before being hit by the oncoming cart.
The footage has been edited to omit the graphic collision, but appears to show the woman being dragged by the carriage and airlifted before falling nine metres to the ground.
According to the Herald Sun, Ms Rodden was told by the ride operators she would have to wait 20 minutes for them to grab her phone which had fallen when she was on the ride herself.
The ride regularly stops for staff to collect items including keys, wallets and phones that have fallen.
Melbourne Royal Show CEO Brad Jenkins said Ms Rodden "was tragically struck by the cart coming down," Seven News reported.
"This is a tragic accident, not a malfunction of a ride, so I can assure people that the rides are entirely safe," he said.
Family hit by double tragedy
The devastating incident comes just months after Ms Rodden's brother died, causing the already grieving family more pain.
In a Facebook post seen by Daily Mail Australia, the 26-year-old said her "world came crashing down" when she heard the news in July.
"Dad sat me down and told me that my brother had passed away," she wrote, according to the publication.
"He wasn't just my big brother, he was my best friend, my everything, the person I looked up to and inspired to be like.
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