It was a sunny day at the Royal Melbourne Show — until one horrifying moment changed everything. In 2022, 26-year-old Shylah Rodden was struck by a speeding rollercoaster while trying to retrieve her phone, leaving her with irreversible brain damage, blindness in one eye, and deafness in one ear.
Now, four passengers who witnessed the shocking scene are suing the ride’s operators, saying they live with trauma and flashbacks from that day. “Our cart hit a woman. We saw blood, we heard screaming — and we were trapped midair,” one survivor said.
Despite Shylah’s devastating injuries, WorkSafe Victoria decided not to charge the ride operators — a move her family called “heartbreaking.” Shylah continues to rebuild her life, bravely facing every day with hope and strength.
Her story — and theirs — reminds us how one split second can change many lives forever. 💔
