U. of South Florida football player falls 35 feet from Busch Gardens ride, in fair condition

USF player falls 35 feet from Busch Gardens ride

TAMPA, Fla. — A University of South Florida football player is recovering at a hospital after falling 35 feet from a ride while working at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

Team officials say 20-year-old Maikon Bonani was working at the Skyride attraction when he fell Saturday. The park did not immediately identify the employee or release his condition.

The park issued a statement saying that after sending a gondola out of the station, the employee thought the door might be unlocked and held onto the door to check it. He hung on as the gondola took off — authorities say — then let go about 35 feet above the ground into a landscaped area.

Bonani was listed in fair condition at a hospital. Busch Gardens said no one else was injured.

Bonani was USF’s starting kicker.