A man is paralyzed after his neck was snapped while riding a roller coaster with his great nephew, News.com.au reported on Wednesday.
Robert Sycamore, 58, was going for a spin on the Grand National wooden roller coaster in Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England when the horror occurred.
"My son was with him and he's come back screaming," said Darren Parlour, Sycamore's nephew. "Rob's a big bloke and he was down in the footwell of the carriage."
The man said Sycamore's ear was on his shoulder and he had turned black and blue. The muscles in his neck collapsed after the break, leaving him looking like he had "melted into the seat."
Sycamore remains on life support and doctors have said he won't be able to use his body anymore. The man is afflicted with spondylitis, which causes inflammation of the back's vertebrae, but a link between the ailment and his injuries has not been established.
"We don't know how it happened or why it happened," Parlour said, according to the Mirror. "The surgeon said they can only take things minute by minute but any use of his body is a definite no."
The coaster, which opened in 1935, runs on a twin track and is one of only three of its kind in the world.
A park spokesperson said the ride is safe and there haven't been any other problems reported this year.
"We do wish Mr. Sycamore the earliest recovery and we are in contact with his family. Our enquiries have not revealed any faults or problems with the ride which has carried almost 500,000 guests in 2014 without incident," the spokesperson said.
