Two years have passed since a terrible roller coaster accident at the Melbourne Royal Show left Shylah Rodden fighting for her life. Her recovery has gone against what doctors thought would happen, but her family's grief, the public's anger, and unanswered legal questions are still affecting her journey.
The Accident That Shocked Australia
On September 24, 2022, the Rebel Coaster hit 26-year-old Rodden, who was reportedly trying to get her phone back from the track. The ride's carriage hit her while it was going up to 70 km/h, pulling her along the rails and throwing her nine metres into the air.
Witnesses said they heard a "bang, a scream, and a loud crack" when she hit the ground. Some people who went to the show were traumatised and stuck on the ride for hours while emergency crews stabilised her. Before taking her to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, paramedics treated her life-threatening injuries.
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A List of Terrible Injuries
The doctors told her family that she probably wouldn't make it. Rodden went through:
- Brain damage from trauma
- Arms, legs, back, neck, and pelvis that are broken
- Severe injuries to the face and loss of hearing and vision
Alan, her father, said at the time, “There’s almost nothing that’s not broken. The doctors said they hadn’t seen injuries this bad in years.”
She was put into an induced coma and was not expected to walk or talk again.
Fights in the hospital and an amazing recovery
Rodden's medical history shows how serious her injuries were and how determined she was:
- Put in a coma in September 2022.
- October: The condition went from critical to serious.
- November: Woke up after more than two months.
- December: Said to be "trapped in her body" and unable to talk.
- January 2023: After spending 101 days in the hospital, he was sent to rehab.
At first, doctors told her she would never be able to live on her own again. But two years later, she has done better than expected—she can walk with help, talk again, and even smile in family pictures.
Still, she has long-term problems, such as blindness in her right eye, deafness in her left ear, loss of smell, trouble swallowing, and problems with her thinking.
Grief in the Family and Anger from the Public
Rodden's ordeal happened just a few weeks after her brother Jason died suddenly, which made the family's pain even worse. But they had to deal with online abuse in addition to their grief. There were a lot of mean comments about the crash on TikTok.
Kylie's mother said, "Shylah has read these comments and they have hurt her very much." It makes her progress slower.
American comedian Anthony Jeselnik even made fun of the tragedy on his podcast, which made people in Australia angry.
The WorkSafe investigation ends without any charges.
For almost two years, WorkSafe Victoria looked into the matter but found no violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Officials decided that ride operators had followed safety rules.
The Rodden family was told by letter, which they thought was cold and not enough. They haven't gotten the whole report yet, and it could take months. Their lawyer has warned them that they might be able to sue the show and ride operators.
Legal Side Stories and Public Attention
Rodden's name has come up in other legal cases, like theft charges that were dropped in 2021. In 2023, court documents that were made public got even more media attention, putting even more focus on her and her family.
The Rebel Coaster, on the other hand, reopened just two days after the accident, which made family members angry and called the decision "shameful." The people who put on the show defended the decision, saying the ride was safe.
Financial Stress and Help
A community-run GoFundMe has raised over $37,000 to pay for therapy, rehabilitation, and home improvements in Craigieburn. Supporters made it clear that the money was only for Rodden's recovery, even though the cost of her care for the rest of her life is likely to be much higher than the donations.
Two Years On: A Story of How to Stay Alive
Shylah Rodden is 28 years old and a living example of strength. She has gotten back skills that doctors thought were lost forever, even though she was hurt badly. But her fight is far from over. She still has to deal with daily therapy, ongoing disabilities, and money problems.
Even though official investigations are coming to an end, her family is determined to get justice. Kylie said of their fight, "She has made progress, but she still has a long way to go."
The Last Word
Many people have been inspired by Rodden's survival, but her case brings up hard questions about safety standards, public empathy, and justice for people who have been in terrible accidents. Two years later, her journey is still going on. This shows that behind the headlines is a young woman putting her life back together piece by piece.
Originally Published on Auburn Times