Kennywood Ride Gave Man Eye-Eating Parasite, Lawsuit Claims

PITTSBURGH, PA - A lawsuit against Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin contends that water in the Raging Rapids ride contained a parasite that gave a man a flesh-eating eye infection.

The lawsuit, filed this week by Robert and Krystsina Trostle of Squirrel Hill, alleges that while Robert Trostle was on the ride in July, he was splashed in the left eye with water containing the microsporidia parasite. Over the next few days, his eye became inflamed and painful, and he subsequently was diagnosed with microsporidia keratitis.

Trostle “had to undergo an extremely painful surgery where the parasite was scraped out of the eye with a surgical scalpel,” the lawsuit states. “He was required to remain in a dark room for the next two days.”

The lawsuit contends that the parasite could not be entirely removed and that Trostle still suffers from blurry vision, redness, itchiness, pain and inflammation.

The lawsuit states that while the Trostles were in line for the ride, they noticed that the Raging Rapids was “dirty, stagnant and sludge-like.” It alleges that Kennywood didn’t properly maintain the ride and its filtration system.

Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise said Thursday that the amusement park does not comment on active litigation.

“Safety is the top priority in everything we do at Kennywood, and that extends to care and maintenance of rides and water used on rides as well,” he said.

The Raging Rapids, which Kennywood’s website says simulates a white water rafting ride, opened in 1985.

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Photo: Associated Press.