A trip to SeaWorld has ended in a legal battle over alleged roller coaster injuries.
Theme park safety has come under renewed scrutiny following a series of reported incidents involving major attractions. Although serious injuries remain relatively uncommon, roller coaster accidents can lead to lawsuits questioning whether parks and their employees followed appropriate safety procedures.
SeaWorld operates several major roller coasters across its parks in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego. These include some of the company's fastest and tallest attractions, with rides that subject passengers to sudden drops, sharp turns, and periods of weightlessness.
Now, a guest has filed a lawsuit against SeaWorld San Antonio, alleging that an employee improperly secured his safety restraint before a roller coaster ride, leaving him with serious and potentially permanent injuries.
SeaWorld Guest Alleges Serious Injuries After Roller Coaster Ride
Sterling Kelly filed a lawsuit against SeaWorld of Texas, LLC, on September 1, 2026, accusing the company of negligence following an incident at SeaWorld San Antonio more than a year earlier.
According to KSAT, Kelly visited the Texas theme park with his grandson on June 10, 2025. During their visit, they boarded Steel Eel, one of SeaWorld San Antonio's oldest roller coasters.
The lawsuit alleges that a SeaWorld employee initially secured Kelly's restraint bar too tightly. When Kelly complained about the fit, the employee reportedly adjusted the restraint, but allegedly loosened it excessively.
Kelly claims the adjustment left him moving around in his seat as the roller coaster traveled through its drops and turns. Rather than remaining properly restrained, he allegedly experienced repeated jolting movements throughout the ride.
According to the complaint, Kelly heard “popping and cracking in his back” while riding Steel Eel and immediately experienced pain.
His difficulties allegedly continued after the roller coaster returned to the station. Kelly claims he was unable to exit the ride vehicle independently, requiring assistance from SeaWorld employees.
The lawsuit alleges that the incident caused severe personal injuries, including permanent bodily impairment. Kelly also claims to have suffered a loss of earning capacity and accumulated ongoing medical expenses.
Kelly is seeking exemplary damages, which can be awarded in certain cases involving particularly serious misconduct. He has also requested a jury trial.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. As of October 8, KSAT reported that SeaWorld San Antonio had not responded to its request for comment.
The allegations have not been established in court.
Steel Eel Has Appeared in Previous Injury Reports
Steel Eel opened at SeaWorld San Antonio in March 1999 and remains one of the park's most recognizable roller coasters.
The attraction reaches a height of 150 feet, travels at speeds of up to 65 mph, and features approximately 3,700 feet of track. Its layout includes a steep initial descent followed by multiple hills designed to produce moments of weightlessness.
SeaWorld describes the ride as an extreme thrill attraction with a 48-inch minimum height requirement. Its official website currently lists Steel Eel as temporarily closed, although no connection between that status and Kelly's lawsuit has been established.
The roller coaster has appeared in previous injury records maintained by the Texas Department of Insurance.
On August 30, 2025, a 35-year-old male rider reported neck pain following what state records classified as a sudden or unexpected muscular movement.
Another report documents an incident involving a seven-year-old girl on October 13, 2024. According to the state database, the child struck her head against her seat as a result of the force of a drop.
Neither report establishes that Steel Eel malfunctioned, and the incidents are separate from Kelly's allegations.
SeaWorld San Antonio's other major roller coasters include Texas Stingray, The Great White, and Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster. The park also operates several water-based thrill rides, including Catapult Falls, Journey to Atlantis, and Rio Loco.
The resort combines its amusement rides with animal attractions featuring orcas, beluga whales, dolphins, sea lions, penguins, and other marine species.
SeaWorld's published rider guidance specifies that safety restraints, including lap bars and shoulder harnesses, must be properly fastened and positioned close to the rider's body. The park also warns that restraint requirements can prevent some guests from riding certain attractions.
Kelly's lawsuit centers on whether those safety requirements were properly followed when he boarded Steel Eel in June 2025.
For now, the case remains an allegation of employee negligence, with Kelly seeking financial compensation for injuries he claims have had lasting consequences.
Have you ever ridden Steel Eel at SeaWorld San Antonio?
