New details revealed in Hilton Head zip line accident that sent man to hospital
The man who was injured on a Hilton Head Island zip line last month struck a backhoe 30 feet in the air, according to a Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue incident report obtained by The Island Packet.
In a statement texted to a reporter Tuesday, Adventure Hilton Head vice president and general manager Nate Jones said the victim was an employee at Adventure Hilton Head and the incident involved a “piece of machinery.”
“We would not like to comment on the extent of the injuries for the privacy of our employee,” the statement said. “We expect him to make a full recovery in the near future and are excited for him to return to our team.”
Jones said Adventure Hilton Head has “run a very safe operation for 9 years while serving over 100,000 guests and adventure seekers.”
The company, according to Jones, has reviewed its “safety protocols to ensure safety of both guests and employees.”
The incident report released by Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue does not say why the excavator was on the zip line course, tell how exactly the injury occurred or list any identifiable information about the injured person. Adventure Hilton Head is currently constructing Hilton Head Island’s first go-kart track on the property.
Hilton Head firefighters found the man trapped and injured on a zip line tower at Adventure Hilton Head on Broad Creek Marina Way at 1:15 p.m. July 23, according to the report.
Firefighters and EMS employees placed the man in a basket and lowered him from the tower with a ladder, according to the report. The basket — called a Stokes basket — was equipped with a board, “spider straps” and webbing, the report said.
The man was safely removed from the tower at 1:54 p.m., according to the report. Hilton Head Fire and Rescue spokesperson Joheida Fister previously told the newspaper that the man was taken to a Savannah hospital at 2:13 p.m. with injuries to his lower body.
The victim had pain in his left leg and ribs, but was “conscious, alert and oriented,” according to the report.
Adventure Hilton Head’s zip line course will be closed until the go-kart track’s grand opening, Jones said. He expects it to open in the next 2-3 weeks, he said.
Adventure Hilton Head
The zip line obstacle course at Adventure Hilton Head was expected to reopen in June after closing for renovations, according to previous Island Packet reporting.
When it opens, the business’ go-kart track will be the first go-kart track on Hilton Head Island.
The electric track was expected to open in July and offer rides for children and adults for around $15 per ride. Called Tuesday, Jones said the grand opening has been delayed due to a shortage of construction materials.
The go-kart track, which is 1,250 feet long, features single and double electric go-karts. A news release about the new track called it “summer’s big attraction.”
“We have to thank the Town staff and the passionate community for their continual support of this project which had its own curves along the way,” owner Roger Freedman said in the news release.
Since the go-kart facility’s application to the town back in 2018, the track has been a source of controversy among residents who worried about the noise the go-karts would create. Opponents compared the plans to Myrtle Beach’s tourist district and other amusement parks, while supporters said the track offers a new activity for tourists and locals.
This story was originally published August 11, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
