Woman Sues SeaWorld Orlando After She Was Knocked Out By a Duck

Yes. You read that correctly. A woman is suing SeaWorld Orlando after she was knocked out by a duck while riding the Mako coaster.

A trip to SeaWorld Orlando reportedly took an unexpected turn when a guest was struck in the face by a duck while riding the Mako rollercoaster. Now, the woman has filed a $50,000 lawsuit against the theme park, alleging negligence and unsafe conditions.

$50k might sound like a smaller amount, but a lot of these suits put that as the minimum and allow the courts to increase the amount at a later date.

How did she get hit with a duck?

According to court documents filed Monday, the woman was riding the Mako roller coaster in March when a duck collided with her mid-ride, allegedly knocking her unconscious.

The lawsuit claims SeaWorld “created a zone of danger” by situating the coaster over or near a body of water, which increased the likelihood of bird strikes from ducks, geese, and gulls.

“SeaWorld created a zone of danger for bird strikes due to… placing the roller coaster over or near a body of water, which creates a higher risk of bird strikes involving ducks, gulls, geese and other waterfowl,” the lawsuit reads.

The plaintiff’s attorneys also argue that SeaWorld should have warned riders about potential hazards associated with birds in the area and allege that the high speeds and loud noises of the ride may have disoriented wildlife.

Sadly, the condition of the duck is not known.

SeaWorld has not issued a statement

Instead, SeaWorld has cited a policy against discussing ongoing litigation. However, in past incidents, the park has emphasized that guest safety remains its top priority.

While SeaWorld has faced previous lawsuits involving flying debris on its coasters, this appears to be the first time a bird strike has been at the center of a legal claim.

The duck incident was not listed in the public safety report.

The alleged incident does not appear in the park’s quarterly injury report, which is filed with the state and includes medical events occurring on theme park rides.

What is the Mako Coaster?

The Mako coaster, named after the ocean’s fastest shark, is one of Orlando’s tallest and fastest roller coasters, reaching speeds of 73 mph and heights of up to 200 feet. The ride is known for its sweeping drops and airtime, carrying guests through a “shipwreck reef” environment — a design element that includes a water feature near the ride path.

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