Delaware State Fair attraction closes after woman injured

A woman was injured after a Delaware State Fair attraction malfunctioned earlier this week, an official confirmed.

According to a Facebook post, a woman who climbed the Zero Shock attraction jumped from a platform "2-3 stories high" onto a Zero Shock airbag.

"The bag malfunctioned and deflated and she broke her ankle in 3 places," the post says. "She is currently in the hospital."

The Facebook post links to a GoFundMe account created by Arianna French, who says the victim is her mother. French declined to comment further when reached by phone.

Delaware State Fair spokesman Danny Aguilar confirmed an injury occurred on the attraction and said officials have been in touch with the victim's family.

"The ride has been closed pending further investigation," Aguilar said. "We don't anticipate it opening back up."

It's unclear how exactly the airbag malfunctioned. Zero Shock's address is listed as in New Zealand, and representatives did not return calls or emails. Zero Shock uses patented impact-absorbing technology it claims is "the safest and most advanced ... in the world," according to the company's website.

The Zero Shock attraction was inspected for the fair June 30, according to documents obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal, and is owned by Mobil Mt. Inc. out of Butler, Pennsylvania. A spokesperson for Mobil Mt. declined to comment.

See the full inspection document:Which carnival rides passed safety test at Delaware State Fair 2023?

The Zero Shock attraction was found to be compliant with the standards required for insurance coverage, the document says, by Florida inspecting company Safety Services and Consulting International LLC.

The Zero Shock airbag operates just like a car's shock absorber, according to the company's website.

"The top surface sheet of the air bag merely ‘floats’ on top of a series of cylindrical tubes or ‘fingers’. When a body lands or indents the top surface sheet, only a small amount of air within the tubes immediately expels into the base bag below when making impact," the website says.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught