OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — At one of Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo's newest attractions, a woman says she was accidentally pinned by a tram that was in reverse last week. It happened at the Asian Highlands exhibit.
61-year-old Georgia Schulz is back home in Minnesota, recovering from severe bruising.
"I'm okay," Schulz said. "I'm thankful it wasn't worse because I know it could have been. I'm very thankful that it wasn't any of my family and especially not a small child."
Schulz calls this a terrible accident. She says she has no broken bones, but her left foot is severely bruised. She has to use a walker to get around and her doctor says she'll need three to six weeks to recover.
Her family was in eastern Nebraska for a family wedding.
"The tram tried to go to a place I don't think it was supposed to go," Schulz said. "I tried to back up, but it didn't wait for everyone to get out of the way."
When asked about the incident, Henry Doorly Zoo issued a statement:
"We are aware of an incident involving a Zoo guest and a golf cart that occurred at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium on Thursday, June 27. The Zoo’s insurance company is currently investigating the incident and is in contact with all parties present. The care of our guests is a very high priority. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has policies, drills and trained staff in place to both prevent and react to incidents, including Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) employees staffed at all times, two mobile golf carts driven by EMTs and a First Aid Station which includes a full-time nurse."
"I don't want anybody not to go to the zoo because it's a wonderful zoo and [our family] loves going there," Schulz said. "I would go back."
A terrible accident that could have been much worse.
