Glad he did not get hurt, but he should have talked up to the ride operatior to stop the ride.
TAMPA University of South Florida sophomore kicker Maikon Bonani fell 35 feet while working on the Skyride ride at Busch Gardens Saturday, according to park and USF officials.
Bonani remained hospitalized with injuries that are not considering life-threatening, USF coach Jim Leavitt said.
"Our entire program is praying for Maikon and happy that the injury was not life-threatening," Leavitt said. "I was able to visit him [Saturday night]. He's in pain, but doing fine and resting."
Bonani was working at Busch Gardens as a Skyride attendant Saturday afternoon.
According to Busch Gardens, after sending a gondola out of the station, Bonani thought the door of the car might be unlocked and held onto the gondola to check it. He then held onto the gondola for about 50 feet and it was estimated he was about 35 feet off the ground when he let go.
He landed in a landscaped area near Jungala.
According to Busch Gardens, there were guests in the Skyride car at the time of the incident, but no one else was injured.
As a freshman last season, Bonani won the starting kicking job after two games. He finished the season making 15 of 21 field goals, including a 43-yarder with no time left against Kansas to defeat the No. 13-ranked Jayhawks in his first collegiate game.
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