Supposedly a family member added a comment under the article:
You want answers to questions? I honestly don't know why I am even reading the comments because half of you are so insulting it's pathetic. To the people praying for my family, thank you- we appreciate all the positive thoughts and prayers.
Fred Appl- His right leg ended just above his knee and he didn't have a left leg at all. It's not possible that he met basic height requirements though I don't know what conversation he had with the operators about this because the family member that was riding with him is still in shock and not talking.
To the others---
This was a terrible accident. As his sister, I know what he was thinking getting on the ride- he wanted to live a normal life and not be treated like a freak just because he had no legs. Should he have been allowed on? Not my call. Doesn't change the fact that he was allowed on and thus died. Please have a little respect and imagine if it was one of your family members- if you can't do that then I truly feel sorry for you.
I hate to be cynical about this but was this some sort of death wish where they hoped to collect a ton of money. A family member was on the ride with him. Someone helped him to get onto the ride. Probably the family member. Did the ride operator even realize this guy had amputated legs?
My first guess is that no one wanted to insult/offend an amputee that wanted to ride.
Everyone, at least most of us, want to accommodate and encourage those with handicaps.
He was an adult; he wanted to ride; and not being much on physics knowledge I would not have guessed that mostly missing legs would have made him fly out of a shoulder harness.