A traumatised man who accidentally captured the tragic moment a young woman was struck by a rollercoaster travelling 70km/h says he ‘hasn’t slept since’.
Witness Jordan said he was filming his sister and partner riding the Rebel Coaster at the Melbourne Royal Show on Sunday when he captured the moment Shylah Rodden, 26, was struck by the ride.
The shocking video shows Ms Rodden get dragged halfway up the ride’s next loop before falling nine metres to the ground.
Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to share the disturbing footage out of respect for Ms Rodden’s family.
Jordan said he is traumatised and ‘hasn’t slept’ since accidentally filming the moment Shylah Rodden (above) was hit by a roller coaster at the Melbourne Royal Show
Disturbing footage, not published by the Daily Mail, shows the moment Ms Rodden (circled in red) was hit by a passenger carriage travelling 70km/h and dragged halfway up its next loop
Jordan said he watched Ms Rodden walk to the track and bend down to retrieve something, all without noticing the roller coaster hurling towards her.
‘It all happened so quickly but so slowly. All of a sudden, I saw someone getting taken up but at the same time I’m thinking “f**k, my sister, my partner”,’ he told 7News.
Ms Rodden remains in a coma with ‘horrific’ facial injuries her family describes as ‘life-changing’.
However, the thing that surprised Jordan was how quiet Ms Rodden was immediately after she was hit.
‘I didn’t hear her scream. The screams that I heard came from onlookers, I think. It happened so fast,’ he said.
Ms Rodden (above) has been left with ‘horrific’ injuries including brain damage, several broken bones and facial damage
Ms Rodden’s devastated family have lashed out at cruel online bullies blaming Ms Rodden for her injuries while she remains in a critical condition and unable to talk, let alone defend herself.
‘It’s sad and disgusting to see the false stories and cover up when my sister is fighting for her life,’ her sister, Caisha, told Daily Mail Australia.
Her father, Alan Rodden, said Ms Rodden’s injuries are far worse than anyone expected.
‘Obviously I can’t talk to my daughter. She’s going to be in a coma for quite a while,’ he said.
‘The injuries are horrific. Horrific. She’s brain damaged.
‘It’s pelvic, her arms, legs, back, neck – there’s hardly a thing that’s not broken.
Jordan thanked emergency responders on the scene who cordoned off the area where Ms Rodden was hit within minutes of the crash and immediately offered counselling services to witnesses (pictured, the Melbourne Royal Show entrance)
‘I just can’t work out how the hell so much damage has been done.
‘Even the doctors have said they haven’t seen anything as bad as this for a long time.’
Their devastation comes just two months after Ms Rodden’s brother, Jason, died.
‘Dad sat me down and told me that my brother had passed away,’ Ms Rodden wrote in the weeks before her accident.
‘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.
Ms Rodden’s family have lashed out at online bullies harassing her (above) as she fights for her life
‘He taught me so much in life, he showed me the difference between right and wrong and he was never afraid to tell me how he really feels.
‘It doesn’t feel real, I keep thinking you’ll call me back.’
Jordan said dedicated emergency responders at the scene of Ms Rodden’s crash on Sunday had the situation under control within minutes.
Police and show staff quickly cordoned off the area and manually moved people still on board the roller coaster to a level platform.
Passengers waited for about 45 minutes before being allowed off the ride.
Jordan said police at the scene were ‘very nice’ and immediately offered counselling to witnesses.
The Rebel Coast ride (above), which Ms Rodden was seriously injured on, was reopened on Tuesday after the horror crash on Sunday
‘I was trying to sign my name at the bottom of my statement and my hand was shaking. I’ve never experienced anything like that and I hope it never happens again,’ he said.
Caisha said her sister was working for the show at the time of the incident.
‘Shylah was actually there working. She was helping out her friend at her stall for the day and she was sent on her break with another worker and they decided to go on a few rides to kill time and this happened unfortunately,’ she said.
WorkSafe gave the Melbourne Royal Show the all-clear to reopen the ride on Tuesday.
Ms Rodden’s family have since slammed the move as ‘shameful’ considering their daughter and sister was seriously injured only two days prior.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact police.
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