One moment, the roller coaster thundered forward with heart-pounding intensity. The next—gasps, chaos, and an alarming strike to the face.
A new video has surfaced from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, captured on June 16, showing what may be one of the most disturbing rider-recorded moments in recent memory. As Iron Gwazi launches through its course, a guest in the back row, equipped with a GoPro-style camera, unintentionally films a horrifying event: a fellow rider in the row ahead is suddenly hit in the face by a rogue cellphone.
The footage ends abruptly, offering no clarity on the extent of the injury—but it’s raised a far more urgent issue. How did a phone make it onto a ride that reaches 76 mph? And how many more accidents like this are just a matter of time?
Viral Video Sparks Safety Debate About Specific Roller Coaster
In just under a minute of footage, the reality of coaster safety risks became painfully clear. The video quickly began circulating across social media—first on niche theme park forums, then mainstream platforms like Twitter and TikTok.
I rode Iron Gwazi on Friday (rain ride) but something unexpected happened 2 rows in front of me, a phone flew back on the last hill into the brakes and hit someone on the head in front of me The phone ended up in my lap when flying back …this is scary … – @EthanHersaft on X
I rode Iron Gwazi on Friday (rain ride) but something unexpected happened
2 rows in front of me, a phone flew back on the last hill into the brakes and hit someone on the head in front of me
The phone ended up in my lap when flying back
…this is scary
— Ethan Hershaft (@EthanHershaft) June 16, 2025
Viewers were stunned. The speed, the angle, the sound—it all happened so fast. What should’ve been a fun roller coaster moment instead became a potential injury scene.
Though the rider with the camera was not hurt, the individual struck has not been publicly identified, and Busch Gardens has yet to confirm the aftermath. Still, the online debate is raging on: Are the parks doing enough to enforce their own rules?
A Preventable Incident… Repeated Too Often
Theme parks routinely post signage and make audio announcements asking guests to store phones, wallets, and other loose items before boarding intense rides. But the reality is—people are getting bolder about sneaking them on.
Whether it’s for a TikTok, Instagram Reel, or POV vlog, theme park content creation is on the rise. And the more devices make it onto coasters, the higher the chance that one ends up flying loose—turning from phone to projectile in a fraction of a second.
Let’s be clear: At 76 mph, a phone weighs significantly more on impact than in your pocket. That’s not just dangerous—it can be catastrophic.
Will This Finally Be the Turning Point?
This isn’t the first time guests have been injured by loose objects on rides. In fact, it’s an ongoing issue at many thrill parks. Universal Orlando’s VelociCoaster and other major attractions now employ metal detectors, lockers, and strict protocols for this very reason.
But Busch Gardens has yet to implement such precautions across the board. That may soon change.
With the Internet now holding a magnifying glass to the issue, it’s only a matter of time before guests—and possibly lawmakers—demand more concrete safety measures.
What It Really Says About Roller Coaster Safety
Beyond ride safety, this incident reveals something deeper: the modern obsession with filming every experience. While capturing memories is part of today’s culture, the cost of content shouldn’t be someone else’s pain.
This isn’t just about Busch Gardens. It’s about the tension between entertainment and responsibility—a line that’s getting harder to see as phones become extensions of ourselves.
If nothing else, the video is a chilling reminder of what happens when rules are ignored for a few seconds of footage. A thrill ride should leave you breathless—not bruised. Theme parks must evolve, but so must guest behavior. Let’s not wait for a tragedy to force the change.
