Family of Shylah Rodden, 26, give health update after horrific Rebel Coaster injury at Melbourne Royal Show

The father of the 26-year-old woman who was critically injured by a roller coaster carriage has given an update on his daughter’s recovery.

The family of the 26-year-old woman who was hit by a rollercoaster at the Royal Melbourne Show say they’re confident she’ll survive and recover from her injuries.

Melbourne woman Shylah Rodden remains in a critical condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital after she was thrown nine metres into the air by a carriage travelling at 70km/hour. While her family have contested this version of events, police and show organisers say she was attempting to retrieve her phone which had fallen on the tracks at the base of the Rebel Coaster.

While the accident left her with brain damage and broken bones in her pelvis, arms, legs, back and neck, her father Allan Rodden is hopeful for his daughter’s recovery.

“She is plodding along … but she will be all right,” he told the Herald Sun.

Previously he told the Daily Mail that doctors expected Shylah would remain in a coma for “quite a while”.

“The injuries are horrific. Horrific. She’s brain-damaged. (She has injured her) arms, pelvis, legs, back, neck – there’s hardly a thing that’s not broken,” he said.

“I just can’t work out how the hell so much damage has been done.”

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Shylah Rodden is fighting for her life after she was struck by a coaster.

The ambulance carrying Shylah Rodden after the horrific incident. Picture: TikTok

Previously, Shylah’s sister, Caisha, lashed the cruel comments directed towards her sister while she was unconscious and fighting for her life.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Caisha said it was “sad and disgusting to see the false stories and cover up when my sister is fighting for her life”. Her sister also confirmed Shylah was on a break while working at a stall at the show when the tragedy occurred.

“Shylah is in critical condition and we won’t know more until later today as we will be discussing with police and giving some eye witness statements.”

Shylah and her sister Caisha. Picture: Facebook

On TikTok, witnesses have shared clips and commentary with varying accounts of what occurred on Sunday.

One witness who was present at the Melbourne Royal Show during the incident said they were “still traumatised”.

“Three of us were facing and looking towards the roller coaster and watching the ride while chatting, suddenly we saw the roller coaster stop,” wrote the TikTok user in the comments.

They said they saw “limbs in the air from the right side of the carriage” and then saw her body fall to the ground.

“Her body was few steps away from us with only a metal fence between us,” they wrote.

“We literally saw her falling out of the roller coaster, we’ll never forget what we witnessed. We were all shocked and then ran towards the body.”

Emergency services respond to the incident at the Melbourne Show. Picture: Morgan Hancock

The tragedy occurred just two months after Shylah lost her elder brother, Jason. He died in late July and, at the time, Shylah wrote on Facebook that her world had come “crashing down”.

“He wasn’t just my Big Brother, he was my best friend, my everything, the person I looked up to and inspired to be like,” she shared in a post dated on July 27.

“He taught me so much in life, he showed me the difference between right and wrong and he was never afraid to tell me how he really feels.

“It doesn’t feel real, I keep thinking you’ll call me back.”

Shylah’s family now fear she could die just two months after they lost her older brother. Picture: Facebook

On Monday, CEO of the Melbourne Royal Show Brad Jenkins said it was a “tragic accident that shouldn’t have happened”.

“From our understanding, there was a mobile phone at the base of the Rebel Coaster that she dropped on the ride and she went back to recover the mobile phone,” he said.

“Regrettably, she was tragically struck by the cart coming down.”

He also clarified that the incident was a “tragic accident, not a malfunction of a ride” and that the rides were safe for public use.

However, speaking to ABC Mornings host Virginia Trioli on Monday, Mr Jenkins refused to speculate as to whether the ride was cordoned off by a fence, and how Shylah accessed the base of the Rebel Coaster.

“I can’t comment specifically on that particular ride,” he said. “There [are] operators down at each of the rides.”

Investigations by WorkSafe are ongoing, however, the ride could be reopened to public as early as Tuesday.