00:00Stardust Racers is one of the most popular rides at Universal's brand new Epic Universe.
00:05Video posted by Universal prior to the park's May opening lays out just why it's so unique.
00:11So what Celestial Spin is, is it's coming out of Launch 2. As you know, it's a racing coaster,
00:17so there's two ride vehicles that are competing against each other. As you come out of Launch 2,
00:22you come into the Celestial Spin, and what that allows the guests to experience is guests in one
00:27ride vehicle will be looking up, the other ride vehicle inverts over the top of you,
00:32so they're looking down, you're looking up, and then milliseconds later, you reverse.
00:36That's so cool. It's really, really cool. But now a park guest has died after riding the roller coaster.
00:43The unidentified man, who was in his 30s, was discovered to be unresponsive after riding the
00:49Stardust Racers attraction at the Orlando Park on Wednesday. The man was rushed to a local hospital
00:55where he was pronounced dead. And while information about the cause of death wasn't immediately given,
01:01a medical examiner revealed on Thursday that this wasn't just a medical incident. According to
01:07autopsy findings, the man died from blunt impact injuries on the ride. What exactly that means has
01:14yet to be made public. Dennis Spiegel, CEO and founder of consulting firm International Theme Park
01:20Services told the Associated Press that the news was pretty shocking and that more information was
01:26needed. Was it the head or the chest? Was he banging around? Was he in his seat properly?
01:32Was it an accident caused by the ride or him doing something? Spiegel asked. Stardust Racers remains
01:38closed as of Thursday morning, according to NBC. We are devastated by this tragic event and extend our
01:44sincere sympathies to the guests' loved ones, a Universal spokesperson said when the incident happened.
01:50But after the autopsy was released, the company told the AP it could no longer comment due to an
01:55ongoing investigation. The 110-acre, $7 billion Epic Universe finally opened in May, after it was
02:03delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Epic, which features more than 50 attractions, is Universal's
02:09fourth Orlando park, including Universal Studios and was the first major theme park to open in the U.S.
02:16in more than 25 years.
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