Woman seriously injured after falling from amusement ride in Guayaquil

A night of fun turned to tragedy in Guayaquil, Ecuador, when a woman suffered serious injuries after falling from an amusement park ride. The incident occurred on the evening of July 20, 2026, at a park located at the intersection of Paseo del Parque avenue and the Narcisa de Jesús highway in the northern part of the city. Emergency services, including the Guayaquil Fire Department, responded promptly after receiving an alert at 9:00 PM. The victim was treated by paramedics in an ambulance at the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital for further medical attention. According to witness accounts, the woman was ejected from a race car-themed ride from a height of approximately four meters. Videos of the incident suggest the seat she occupied may have lacked a safety belt, raising serious concerns about ride safety protocols. The park has been issued a 24-hour operational suspension by the Ministry of the Interior as a sanction for the accident. Park officials have reportedly approached the woman's family to discuss covering medical expenses. The incident has caused public outcry, with citizens demanding thorough inspections of all mechanical attractions in amusement parks, especially ahead of Guayaquil's upcoming festivities, emphasizing the need for safety to be the top priority.