Heartbreaking body camera footage shows the aftermath of a fatality on a Universal theme park rollercoaster

A couple’s trip to the theme park ended in disaster after riding a rollercoaster at Universal’s Epic Universe in Florida.

Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, sadly died in September last year after suffering “a number of serious injuries” on the Stardust Racers tour.

Body footage of her stricken partner Javiliz Cruz-Robles detailing the terror they experienced as they reached a height of 133ft has now been released.

Emergency personnel were seen desperately trying to revive Kevin in a harrowing video recorded by responding deputies who raced to the scene six months ago.

The wheelchair user began to encounter problems on the rollercoaster when he reached the first hill, when Javiliz recalled seeing his boyfriend hunker down and hit his head on a metal railing, Fox35 previously reported.

By the time the Stardust Racers returned to the station, Kevin was unconscious. The doctor who was waiting for the rollercoaster, Anna Marshall, told the authorities that he appeared “lifeless” and was disoriented.

Marshall also said that his femur bone appeared to be broken in half and was lying on the back of his chair.

According to the Orange County Medical Examiner, Kevin suffered multiple devastating injuries – including a broken nose, internal bleeding, a broken bone and multiple lacerations.

Ruling his death as accidental, the coroner also noted that Kevin suffered from several long-term health conditions, including a congenital spinal deformity that resulted in paraplegia and severe scoliosis.

He had undergone surgery throughout his life due to these health problems and was confined to a wheelchair.

Javiliz was seen telling police that his other half was “hitting his head” and suggested that he was unable to stay securely in his seat for the duration of the trip.

“We got on board, he doesn’t have any support on his feet,” he said. “They push [the restraint] about three times maybe four … I saw him on the first drop, I saw him hit his head, I tried to catch him, I couldn’t catch him.

“He went up and hit. It seemed like [his seat] he was tied up, but he wasn’t – he has no support on his legs so he can’t stay there.”

You can check out the body cam footage here, but be aware that some viewers may find it disturbing:

Two deputies were later seen checking the seats Kevin and Javiliz were riding in, with another questioning whether it was a ‘brain issue’ or vomit covering them.

Kevin was then taken to hospital after life saving efforts were carried out at the scene and sadly he was pronounced dead.

Investigators later said the Stardust Racers ride was working fine when he was on it, although it took the crew ‘three or four attempts’ to secure Kevin before he left.

The medical examiner also found no evidence of foul play, while the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said no crime had occurred.

Kevin’s family hired attorney Ben Crump to independently investigate the case and settled with Universal Orlando out of court, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

In a letter to employees obtained by Fox 35, the president of Universal Orlando Resort said in part: “Our full technical and operational review confirmed that the vehicle systems were in good working order throughout the ride, boarding time, and when the vehicle returned to the station, and our Team Members followed all procedures.

“Safety, as always, is our number one priority. To continue to help guests know whether or not they can ride an attraction, we are updating the attraction’s operating systems and signs to reinforce existing ride warnings and physical fitness requirements on Stardust Racers and other rides.”

The ride – which hits speeds of up to 62mph as it travels its 5,000-foot course – was temporarily closed after Kevin’s death.

When it reopened, a new rule was implemented requiring people with disabilities to be able to walk on their own if they wished to ride it.

In a GoFundMe started in Kevin’s memory, his loved ones described him as a ‘genuine type’, saying: “He had an old soul – wise beyond his years – with a heart full of compassion, love and understanding.

“He was the type of person who would always take the time to listen, give thoughtful advice, and lift others up, even when he was facing his own challenges. Despite the obstacles and obstacles he encountered throughout his life, Kevin met them all with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit. He overcame so much, and he did so with quiet poise and humility. His presence lit up the space. each, and no one can fill every place.”