A weekend outing at Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon turned chaotic Saturday afternoon when a man suffered a medical emergency on the Skyfari Sky Ride and fell to the ground, according to witnesses and officials. Visitors and zoo staff rushed to help as the rider dangled roughly 15 to 20 feet above the ground, trying to support him before he slipped and fell. Witnesses said the man appeared to continue having a seizure after hitting the ground.
Mendon fire crews called for an air ambulance, and the man was flown to UMass Medical Center in Worcester. As of the latest reports, authorities had not released an update on his condition.
According to NBC10 Boston, a zoo spokesperson said the rider experienced a seizure while on the Skyfari, prompting staff to activate safety protocols. Aaron Bergeron, a visitor from Rhode Island, told the station he and others tried to hold onto the rider as his feet hung above the ground, estimating the drop at 15 to 20 feet, before the man ultimately fell. The zoo spokesperson said staff and emergency responders reacted immediately…