A day at the amusement park is supposed to be full of excitement and laughter, but not for one dad and his daughter. The pair ended their fun family day out by saving a 14-year-old girl from a 25-foot drop.
A Fun Day Out
It was just a normal day out for 47-year-old, Matthew Howard and his family as they enjoyed a day in the sun at the Six Flags Great Escape Amusement Park in New York. But their day took a frightening turn as the family were making their way out of the theme park.
They Heard a Scream
As Howard and his family were heading towards the exit of the amusement park, they heard a scream from above. Suddenly, crowds began to form as they couldn’t quite believe what was before them.
They Couldn’t Believe What They Saw When They Looked Up
Howard and his family looked up to see a young old girl dangling from a gondola ride as her younger brother sat next to her screaming for help. Howard couldn't believe his eyes, but knew what he had to do next…
Howard Hurried to Help the Girl
Howard rushed to the 14-year-old girl who was hanging from the gondola cabin and stood directly beneath her. At this point, the ride was still moving but the crowds gathering around the horrific scene soon alarmed the park’s employees to stop the ride.
Howard’s Daughter Stepped in to Help
21-year-old Leeann Winchell scrambled beside her dad to assist in catching the teenager. The brave pair stood below, unconcerned with the possibility of them getting injured too and knew their priority was to save the young girl.
The Gondola Abruptly Stopped
Once people began shouting for help and crowds gathered round, the Six Flags staff realized something was wrong. When they saw that there was a child in danger on one of the rides, the gondola came to an immediate stop. Howard and Winchell could now steadily position themselves directly under the girl.
Security Came Running
The amusement park’s team of security came running to assist the father and daughter along with the other theme park-goers. Dozens of people were now huddled together ready to catch the terrified teen who hung 25-feet above them.
Howard Reassured the Girl
A burly man, Matthew Howard shouted up to the young girl that he promised to catch her. The worried dad braced his body directly below the fearful teen with arms stretched out, but the young girl struggled to let go.
She Was Hanging by Her Neck
Howard noticed that the young girl appeared to be hanging from the gondola ride with her neck stuck under the railing bars. He knew she was in danger…
The Crowd Grew Bigger
The horrifying event attracted a crowd of park-goers who stood by eagerly anticipating the girl’s safety, while others filmed the nightmare unfolding in front of them. Patrons looked up at the slow moving ride and could not understand how something that appeared so harmless could put a child’s life at risk.
The Young Girl Could Not Hold on Anymore
Although the teenager’s neck was wedged under the safety bars of the gondola, her head managed to escape through the gap underneath, but she was still holding on for her life. Crying hysterically, the 14-year-old’s younger brother was also no longer able to hold on to his sister and feared for the worst.
The Teen’s Younger Brother Was Panicking
The 14-year-old was sitting next to her little brother in the two person pod when she slipped out. Her younger brother was heard from the crowds below shouting, "I can’t pull her back up, she can’t breathe! She’s choking, her head is stuck! Her neck is stuck!"
Howard and His Daughter Waited for the Teen to Let Go
As everyone began to panic, Howard and Winchell stood with their arms wide open ready to catch the teenager while reassuring her that she was in good hands. "It’s OK! It’s OK to let go, I’ll catch you, honey," Howard shouted to the frightened young girl who knew she had only one way down and eventually put her trust in the man standing below her.
The Young Girl Fell 25 Feet
As parents and children looked on in terror, the teenager lost her grip on the safety bars and fell into the arms of her hero. The crowd cheered and applauded Howard and the other people who helped get the 14-year-old to safety.
They Both Suffered a Loss of Consciousness
While others helped to catch the teenager, Howard and the young girl took the brunt of the fall. When the teenager fell, she landed on Howard’s chest while Winchell caught the young girl’s neck and upper back. The force of the impact knocked Howard back causing both he and the teenager to momentarily loose consciousness.
Paramedics Rushed to the Scene
As the emergency services were called, both Howard and the girl regained consciousness. A group of people carried the young girl to where the paramedics would later arrive. People in the vicinity were frantic and kids were crying while parents stood in shock thinking this could have been their child.
They Both Suffered Minor Injuries
After being taken to hospital, the young girl was in a stable condition and suffered minor injuries. Her savior, Howard left the hospital that day after being treated for a minor back injury.
Howard Couldn’t Let the Girl Die
In an interview following the ordeal, Howard told reporters, "I couldn’t let that little girl die. No one wants to put himself underneath a body like that, but I couldn’t stand by and watch."
Her Hero Visited Her in the Hospital
Winchell, who was applying to be a nurse at the time of the incident, told reporters that she and her dad visited the girl in hospital and she was in good spirits. Winchell also commented on the teenager’s younger brother who was very shaken up but uninjured.
The Right Place at the Right Time
Howard and his daughter are certainly the best people to have around in an emergency because of their immediate response and selfless act of bravery. Although they're both heroes, they just considered themselves to have been in the right place at the right time. "I’m just glad we could be there to help," Winchell said in an interview.
It Was Anything But a Thrill Ride
The gondola ride that the 14-year-old fell from was a pretty low-key ride. It slowly circled the theme park giving its patrons an aerial view of the park. Each pod was secure with handle bars that keep you safe inside, or so they're meant to. But somehow, the teenager slipped under the safety bar which caused her to neck to get stuck.
Witnesses Recorded the Scene
One eye witness, Loren Lent recorded the frightening incident on his phone as his wife and 10-year-old daughter were on the same ride watching from above as the teenager fell. The video has since reached over nine million views online.
Staff Were Slow to Respond
According to Loren Lent, the theme park staff took too long to stop the ride and render first aid. Lent also commented on how the ride had no seatbelt, and just a bar across to hold you inside. "My daughter was just traumatized," he said. "She was crying for about a half-hour after."
Six Flags’ Statement
After the incident, Six Flags officials inspected the ride but said it was functioning correctly. "There does not appear to be any malfunction of the ride," the park’s representatives said.
The Ride Is No Longer Up and Running
After the incident, the park decided to discontinue the ride on which the accident occurred. It wasn't closed because of this event specifically, but if it can happen to one person, what's to stop it from happening to countless other young people?