Universal Orlando's twin roller coasters will never race each other again after a man 'lost his eyeball' on intertwining ride

For a decade it has been the most thrilling experiences at Universal Orlando, riding on the park's twin roller coasters as they race at 60mph and intertwine within 18 inches of each other.



But the park is altering its signature ride the Dragon Challenge after a man claims he had his eyeball removed in one of two horrific accidents on the ride.



Officials have announced that they will no longer launch the twin roller coasters simultaneously following an internal investigation stemming from the incidents this summer.

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Ride: The roller coaster is being altered after a man claims he had his eyeball removed in one of two horrific accidents on the ride

'We believe this is the best path forward for our guests and for the attraction,' a spokesman told the Orlando Sentinel.



The park started launching the two coasters - the Chinese Fireball dragon and the Hungarian Horntail dragon - on a staggered basis after two riders were thought to have been struck by loose objects. That change has now become permanent.

In one case, a 52-year-old man suffered a lacerated right eye while riding Dragon Challenge on July 31. The man's lawyer says he had his eyeball removed.



The park has refused to discuss what exactly happened in the incidents, but in a statement it reminded guests to secure all loose items, suggesting that they may have been caused by items falling out of guests' hands or pockets.



Two weeks after Carlos Montalvo, a Puerto Rican, lost his eye on the ride, a 19-year-old said he was hit by something on the attraction.



Coaster: Officials have announced that they will no longer launch the twin roller coasters simultaneously following an internal investigation

Plan: The roller coasters used to intertwine within 18 inches of each other

Jon Wilson, from Ohio, said that he was hit on his foot, arm and face.



The ride was built when Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park opened in 1999 and was called 'Duelling Dragons' but was re-branded when it received a themed makeover when the park opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter last year.



Passengers on the ride, which lasts two minute and twenty-five second, are suspended with their legs dangling below and pass through five inversions.



The ride has had few accidents and was built to calculate the weight of the two coasters when filled with passengers so that their timing was optimised.



Records reveal that there have only been five reported injuries on the ride during the past decade, but lawyers for the man who lost his eye claim others have gone unreported.



Accidents: The issue of loose objects has become more of a problem for roller coaster operating as more guests carry smartphones and other devices

'We are aware of several other incidents where people have been struck by objects [while riding Dragon Challenge], Mr Montalvo's lawyer Clay Mitchell told the Orlando Sentinel.



The issue of loose objects has become more of a problem for roller coaster operating as more guests carry smartphones and other devices.



'Today, we hear a lot about cell phones because people are trying to take pictures while they're riding,' Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services told the Orlando Sentinel. 'Sometimes they lose their grip, and the thing flies out.'



A Universal spokesman said that the park has many warning signs and has staff in ride queues to help spot potential problems.

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