TAMPA, Fla. — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has modified its new Iron Gwazi coaster after a guest said they struck their hand on a beam while riding.


What You Need To Know

  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has removed two beams from Iron Gwazi after guest incident

  • Guest reported hitting his hand on one of the beams while riding the coaster

  • Iron Gwazi is set to officially open to the public on March 11

​The theme park confirmed with Spectrum News on Thursday that two beams were removed from the attraction following the incident.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the morning after this situation, crews removed two beams from the area where the guest reported this situation occurred,” Busch Gardens said in a statement. “We took the precautionary step to remove them as part of our commitment to the health and safety of guests.”

The guest, according to the park, declined any medical treatment.

“The safety of our guests is our highest priority and all of our rides are designed and installed according to all applicable standards, manufacturer specifications and include specific ride restrictions for the safety of our guests,” the statement said.

The change comes ahead of Iron Gwazi’s official opening on March 11. The ride has been open to pass members for previews in recent weeks.

The hybrid coaster, manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, reaches speeds of up to 76 mph and plunges riders from a 206-foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop.

SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens’ sister park, also recently made changes to its new Ice Breaker coaster. The park raised the coaster’s minimum height requirement due to “operational issues with smaller riders.”

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