Credit: Inside The MagicUniversal Orlando Resort is under fire following the most recent theme park incident report, including a death inside the park. Here’s the latest in a shocking report just released.
Death and Incidents Reported Inside Universal Orlando Resort
It began with a quiet line of numbers—nothing more than a routine quarterly document published by the state. But buried inside that spreadsheet, among dates and ages and medical summaries, was something far heavier: the kind of entry that stops readers cold.
A single line noting that a guest never made it home after stepping off a ride at one of Florida’s most anticipated theme parks. What happened inside the country’s newest mega-park, and why is the industry paying such close attention now?
As seasonal crowds surge and new attractions open at breakneck speed, Florida’s theme parks face a recurring, uncomfortable truth: even the most carefully engineered environments cannot escape real-world consequences. And this season’s injury report suggests there may be more beneath the surface than routine bumps and bruises.
The Numbers That Tell a Bigger Story
Every quarter, Florida’s major theme parks submit self-reported documentation of guest injuries that require at least 24 hours of hospitalization. The agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ensures transparency, but it also exposes the limitations of these reports—they offer no ongoing medical updates, no identifying details, and almost no context.
This year’s July–September filings follow the same pattern: sparse, clinical descriptions of incidents scattered across Universal Orlando’s resort, its water park, and the brand-new Epic Universe. Seven injuries were listed for the Universal parks during this period.
Most are the types of occurrences that appear in these documents year after year: chest pain, dizziness, neck strain, headaches, or disorientation, often tied to high-speed coasters.
But among these notations is an entry that stands apart—not because it is sensationalized, but because the report states only the facts.
A Fatal Line Item That Can’t Be Ignored
In September, a 32-year-old guest was listed as having suffered fatal injuries at Epic Universe. That guest was later identified through autopsy records as Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, whose death was attributed to “multiple blunt impact injuries.” Zavala was found unconscious after riding Stardust Racers, one of Epic Universe’s premier new roller coasters.
The injury report offers no narrative, no explanation, and no speculation. It merely logs the incident as required. But its presence in the data marks the first publicly documented death associated with the new park since its opening in late May.
While previous medical emergencies tied to theme park rides do occur, fatalities are rare, and this one has rippled through the industry—not because of sensationalism, but because Epic Universe represents Universal’s most ambitious expansion in decades.
Universal’s Response and the Wider Safety Review
Universal executives initiated an internal review immediately following Zavala’s death. According to a company memo, the coaster underwent extensive inspection, including oversight from state officials, the ride’s manufacturer, and a third-party roller coaster engineering expert.
Their conclusion: Stardust Racers was functioning as designed, and team members followed correct procedures. After the review, the coaster reopened on October 4.
Notably, no additional injuries from Stardust Racers were recorded during the July–September quarter aside from the fatality. However, two earlier incidents—both nonfatal—were reported in June, shortly after Epic Universe opened.
Other Incidents Across the Universal Orlando Resort
Outside of Epic Universe, the injury report details a handful of other coaster-related medical events:
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Incredible Hulk Coaster (Islands of Adventure):
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July 22: A 66-year-old man experienced chest pain.
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August 20: A 56-year-old man reported a headache post-ride.
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Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure:
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July 5: A 40-year-old woman had an “altered level of consciousness.”
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Revenge of the Mummy:
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August 24: A 32-year-old woman reported neck pain and motion sickness.
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Hogwarts Express:
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September 29: A 78-year-old woman experienced dizziness while aboard the train.
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Krakatau Aqua Coaster (Volcano Bay):
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August 4: A 38-year-old woman experienced neck pain.
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These entries aren’t unusual for high-motion attractions. But together, they paint a broader picture of how Florida’s theme parks operate under intense public scrutiny—balancing innovation, safety, and guest expectations for ever-more-thrilling experiences.
Why This Matters for Theme Park Guests and the Industry
While the state’s quarterly injury reports are intentionally limited in detail, they serve an important role: they remind the public and the industry alike that safety in these massive, fast-evolving environments is an ongoing effort, not a one-time certification.
The death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala raises a question that engineers, regulators, and park operators will continue to revisit: how do parks expand thrill offerings while maintaining the highest possible safety standards, especially with new parks like Epic Universe drawing millions of first-time riders?
For now, the official reviews—state and independent—support Universal’s conclusion that Stardust Racers operated correctly. But the undercurrent is clear: each new coaster, each new innovation, brings not only excitement but responsibility. And the data in this quarter’s report suggests that the conversation around safety will only grow more complicated as Florida’s parks continue to push boundaries.