Woman Dies After Falling 35 Feet From Zip Line at a Delaware State Park

Delaware State Police say a woman who died after tumbling from a zip line ride fell from a platform about 35 feet off the ground.

Authorities say 59-year-old Tina Werner of Felton was waiting to descend on the zip line at the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure attraction at Lums Pond State Park in Bear, Del., when she fell.

Park rangers and Go Ape employees performed first aid on Werner until paramedics arrived. She was taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The Go Ape attraction opened at Lums Pond in 2013, with officials touting it as the first zip line adventure course in a state park on the East Coast.

The treetop course spans seven acres and includes four zip lines and a variety of swings, rope ladders, bridges and trapezes.

According to the website of Go Ape, which is based in Frederick, Md., and operates attractions in 15 states, patrons receive a 30-minute training session before being turned loose on the course, which can take them as high as 50 feet in the air.

“Waivers are signed by participants to accept responsibility for following the safety rules and advice on the course and assume all risks associated with his/her participation,” the company’s website states. “These safety rules are communicated thoroughly in a safety brief that is required of every participant before they Go Ape.”

Jeff Davis, a spokesman for Go Ape, said that the rides are inspected on a regular basis.

“The Go Ape company is extremely saddened by this,” he said.