SeaWorld is facing legal repercussions after an employee allegedly failed to properly secure a rider in their seat.The incident took place on the Steel Eel Hypercoaster, which opened at SeaWorld San Antonio in 1999. The ride stands 150 feet tall, reaches speeds of up to 65 mph, and features a series of steep drops across 3,700 feet of track.Credit: SeaWorld OrlandoFull Details Shared About SeaWorld IncidentA SeaWorld guest has filed a lawsuit against the company after allegedly sustaining serious back injuries on a roller coaster at its San Antonio theme park.Sterling Kelly filed the lawsuit against SeaWorld of Texas, LLC, on September 1, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The complaint alleges negligence following an incident that occurred on June 10, 2025, when Kelly visited the park with his grandson (via KSAT).According to the lawsuit, Kelly boarded the Steel Eel Hypercoaster, where an employee initially secured his restraint bar too tightly. After Kelly complained, the employee allegedly loosened the restraint excessively, leaving him bouncing and moving around in his seat as the roller coaster navigated its drops and turns.Credit: SeaWorldKelly claims he heard “popping and cracking in his back” during the ride and immediately experienced pain. When the coaster returned to the station, he was allegedly unable to leave the vehicle without assistance from SeaWorld employees.The lawsuit alleges that Kelly suffered permanent bodily impairment, loss of earning capacity, and ongoing medical expenses. He is seeking exemplary damages and has requested a jury trial.Previous Injuries Reported at SeaWorldThis isn’t the first complaint involving Steel Eel. In 2024, a guest alleged that her daughter’s strap malfunctioned on the attraction (although SeaWorld responded that the “‘harness’ this family is referencing is called a ‘comfort collar,’ which is intended for the rider’s comfort and is not a restraining device”). Another rider, a 35-year-old man, reported neck pain following an unexpected muscular movement on August 30, 2025.Credit: SeaWorldOther SeaWorld San Antonio coasters have also appeared in state injury reports. In September 2023, a 47-year-old man reported lower back pain after a turn on Wave Breaker. That July, a 20-year-old man reportedly struck his head against a side bar while riding The Great White.SeaWorld Orlando has also faced legal action over an alleged coaster injury. In October 2025, Hillary Martin sued after claiming a duck struck and disfigured her face while she rode Mako, knocking her unconscious. A judge dismissed the complaint in January 2026.SeaWorld San Antonio is home to several major roller coasters, including Steel Eel, Texas Stingray, The Great White, Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster, and the newer Barracuda Strike. Other attractions include Tidal Surge, Catapult Falls, Journey to Atlantis, and Rio Loco, alongside smaller family rides and Sesame Street-themed attractions.Alongside its rides, SeaWorld San Antonio houses a variety of marine animals, including orcas, beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins (although the marine park said farewell to a member of its pod last year), sea lions, penguins, and sharks. Guests can observe the animals at attractions such as Discovery Point, Penguin Encounter, and Pacific Point Preserve, while the park also offers additional paid animal encounters and backstage tours.Have you ever experienced Steel Eel at SeaWorld San Antonio?The post SeaWorld Worker Allegedly Fails to Secure Rider in Roller Coaster Seat, “Serious” Injuries Reported appeared first on Inside the Magic.