A pastor’s daughter plunged more than 100ft from her death after falling off a giant swing ride at a Christian summer camp.
Olivia Grimes, 16, was one of hundreds of children spending their summer at Carolina Point, on the North-South Carolina border, when she came loose from the oversized thrill ride on Monday afternoon.
Authorities have not yet been able to say why Olivia, who was riding with two other campers, wasn’t held in place by the ride’s safety devices.
Olivia, from Lakeland, Florida, was given CPR, but was later pronounced dead at the scene by medics.
She and her fellow campers were riding the ‘Freebird’ attraction at the $500-a-week Carolina Point retreat, which is run by a Christian charity.
Two supervisors were watching the group at the time. A statement from the camp said only that Olivia ‘became detached’ from the harness and died of her injuries. A local coroner said her death was accidental.
Footage of other campers using the device shows that riders have body harnesses and a safety bar.
They are hoisted to the top of a 120ft wooden frame, then one of the rides pulls a rope which releases the seat, which swings back and forth under its own momentum.
It is one of several thrill rides at the camp, which also includes a zip wire course.
‘On Monday afternoon, July 13, a camper became detached from and fell off a swing.
‘Camp staff called emergency medical assistance and immediately began administering CPR. To our great sorrow, this young woman has passed away…. We do not yet know how this occurred.’
A Young Life spokesman told DailyMail.com that the camp has closed the Freebird swing at Carolina Point, and similar devices at other camps.
Other campers, many of whom came with Olivia from Florida, were given the option to go home, though the camp itself remains open.
Olivia is the daughter of pastor Phil Grimes of the Oasis Community Church in Lakeland and his wife, Robyn. She also has a sister, Sabrina.
In a statement posted online, church officials said: ‘It’s with deepest sorrow and broken hearts that we let you know that Olivia Grimes, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Pastor Phil and Robyn and sister of Sabrina, passed away on Monday after an accident at a summer camp.
‘Due to the overwhelming nature of the circumstances, we are asking that you refrain from contacting Phil and Robyn at this time. Please keep them and the entire Grimes family in your prayers.’