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Roller Coaster Rider Struck by Duck, Suffers Permanent Injury
29 Oct
Summary
- Florida woman injured on SeaWorld's "Mako" roller coaster
- Duck flew into ride's path, hit her in the face and knocked her out
- Lawsuit claims SeaWorld failed to maintain safety and warn of dangers
On March 2025, Hillary Martin, a resident of Orange County, Florida, was riding the "Mako" roller coaster at SeaWorld when a duck suddenly flew into the ride's path and struck her in the face, knocking her unconscious. The incident has led to permanent injury, expensive hospital treatments, an inability to enjoy a normal life, disfigurement, loss of wages, and other negative consequences, according to the lawsuit filed on October 29, 2025.
Martin believes SeaWorld created a "zone of danger" around the ride by placing it near a body of water where ducks, gulls, geese, and other waterfowl are likely to be found, increasing the risk of bird strikes. She is now seeking a jury trial and at least $50,000 in damages, claiming the theme park failed to maintain safety on its premises and warn about potential dangers related to the location of the roller coaster.
