Nick Mendenhall had planned a surprise trip to Six Flags for his 14-year-old son, unaware that it would end tragically.
A man, aged 42, lost his life on Monday while riding the Goliath roller-coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, located north of Atlanta. Authorities reported that he was ejected from his seat, hitting other riders before landing below the ride.
In response, Six Flags has closed the Goliath and nine similar roller-coasters at six North American parks, including two at Canada’s Wonderland near Toronto. Additionally, La Ronde in Montreal has temporarily shut down a roller-coaster obtained during the park’s previous ownership by Six Flags.
Having just ridden the Goliath with his son minutes before the tragic incident, Mendenhall witnessed the fall. He shared his account with guest host Dave Seglins on As It Happens. Here are excerpts from their conversation.
Nick, how are you and your son coping after the event?
We’re holding up. I’m still processing everything amidst the influx of calls and messages discussing the incident. It’s a mix of emotions, but overall, I’m managing well.
My son is doing fine as he didn’t witness what I saw; he was in line for another ride at the time.
Could you describe your experience with the Goliath ride? Is it a familiar ride for you?
Yes, we’ve ridden the Goliath around 20 times in the past two months. It’s a favorite ride of ours, and we had just finished the ride shortly before the unfortunate incident occurred.
What prompted your visit to the park that day?
My son had persistently asked to go to the park on his day off from school. Initially, I had work commitments, but I decided to surprise him by starting work early and taking him to the park in the afternoon.
While working and attending
