Fabio Hit By Flying Bird on Apollo's Chariot

Williamsburg, VA – March 30, 1999 – Supermodel Fabio suffered a one-inch cut on his nose after a bird hit him while riding the new Apollo's Chariot roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Fabio was attending the park's media event to help promote the new roller coaster. Unfortunately for the park, the timing could not have been worse.



Supermodel Fabio on the Apollo's Chariot roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. AP Photo/The Virginian-Pilot, Steve Earley Supermodel Fabio on the Apollo's Chariot roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

According to a witness, the bird hit Fabio during the plummet down the first drop of 210 feet at a speed of up to 73 mph. Fabio returned to the station with blood all around his nose.

As a result, Fabio was taken from the park to the Williamsburg Community Hospital where he was treated and released for a minor cut.

Following the incident Busch Gardens Williamsburg spokeswoman Deborah L. DeMarco commented, "He's fine, with no serious injuries."

Fabio declined to talk after the incident and instead opted to return to Los Angeles missing the evening media event.

As for the bird, he did not fair as well. According to one park guest a dead goose could be seen floating in the river below the drop where Fabio was supposedly hit.

Despite the mishap, the roller coaster reopened after only a 15-minute downtime and park officials said the incident was an unpredictable freak accident that has never occurred before.

See Related: Busch Gardens Europe, Apollo's Chariot