Serious Work Accident During 'Poseidon' Inspection at Europa-Park

A serious work accident occurred at Europa-Park in Rust on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, around 2 p.m. A 31-year-old park employee sustained severe injuries during maintenance work on the water roller coaster "Poseidon." Police report that the worker was on a 20-meter-high platform and apparently started the ride too early.

The Dramatic Sequence of the Accident

The 31-year-old was on the platform to inspect the "Poseidon" roller coaster. This attraction combines elements of a roller coaster with a boat ride and is one of the park's popular rides. According to police, the man started the ride too soon, leading to a dramatic incident. A car on the ride caught one of his safety harnesses. As a result, the worker was dragged along and thrown against the car.

The safety harness tore under the applied force, and the 31-year-old came to rest on the platform. He suffered severe injuries and required immediate medical attention. A rescue helicopter transported him to a hospital.

Investigations and Authorities' Involvement

Police from the Rust police station and the Offenburg traffic department initially investigated without indications of third-party involvement. The Freiburg public prosecutor's office nevertheless commissioned an expert to reconstruct the exact sequence of events. The accident happened at a moment when the worker was engaged in necessary inspections about 20 meters in the air. As police report, there is no evidence of third-party fault.

Statement from Europa-Park

A Europa-Park spokesperson confirmed the accident and stated that the man is now on the mend. The "Poseidon" ride was not open to visitors during the maintenance work, so no other people were affected. Due to the injured man's privacy, the spokesperson provided no details on whether he was a direct park employee or from a maintenance company.