Two teenage boys died in a horrific bungee cage accident at Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, when the cage plummeted 150 feet to the ground, causing catastrophic injuries. The victims, Zachary Steinke, 17, and Michael Nash, 19, were at the Beach Bungee attraction on August 10, 1993, when the cable snapped, sending the cage crashing down as horrified family members watched.
Faulty equipment led to tragedy
The 175-foot steel archway at Beach Bungee was designed to lift participants in an elevator-style cage. However, the original chain-driven hoist mechanism was broken. Instead of repairing it with a proper replacement part, the owners installed an improvised commercial shrimping winch with a wire cable. That afternoon, rainy and wet conditions reduced visibility, and the cable could not withstand the strain. Under tension, the cable parted, causing the cage to fall.
According to attorney John Kassel, who represented the families, the system experienced a phenomenon known as 'two-blocking,' where the cable is overloaded and snaps. 'The cable ripped apart. The cage fell to the ground. Both boys were killed in front of a crowd of people, including the parents of one of the boys,' Kassel said.
Legal battle and verdict
In 1995, the families won a $12 million judgment against the individual owners of Beach Bungee. The court ruled the owners personally liable because they bypassed safety systems to avoid losing summer tourist business. Kassel also pursued a case against the South Carolina Department of Labor, winning a $2 million verdict that was upheld on appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court.
Kassel noted, 'I tried the case against the owners and the shrimper in federal court. One issue was to find individual liability and not simply get a verdict against a defunct corporation.' He added that he became close to both families during the legal process.
Impact and aftermath
The tragedy highlighted the dangers of inadequate safety measures at amusement attractions. Zachary's parents, who witnessed the fall, attempted CPR before emergency services arrived. The incident remains a cautionary tale about the consequences of cutting corners on safety.
