Maikon Bonani of USF Falls 35 Feet From Gondola at Busch Gardens

by Jon Azpiri | July 19, 2009 at 10:22 am

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Maikon Bonani, the starting kicker for the University of South Florida football player, fell 35 feet from a gondola ride at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL.

Bonani worked at the park operating the Skyride gondola.

It said that after sending a gondola out of the station, the Skyride attendant thought the door might be unlocked and held onto the door to check it. He held on for about 50 feet as the gondola took off, and he let go over the Jungala attraction — a 35 foot fall, the release said. There were passengers, but none was injured.

Maikon Bonani was reportedly responsive after the fall, and was sent to the hospital as a precaution. USF football coach Jim Leavitt says that Maikon Bonani may have injured his vertebra.

A native of Brazil, Maikon Bonani moved to the US at the age of 11. Bonani grew up playing both football and soccer.