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Attraction where father was killed reopens; Zip line remains closed

Artegon Marketplace says Sky Trails Ropes Course has reopened

ORLANDO, Fla. – Less than a week after an Orlando man fell 30 feet to his death, a local attraction is back open on International Drive. Investigators said the man fell when a harness came loose on an indoor zip line.

The Artegon Marketplace said Tuesday that the Sky Trails Ropes Course has since reopened following safety inspections and clearance by local and state agencies, however, the Sky Rails zip line remains closed.

Tuesday night, inside of the marketplace, many tourists walked along the Sky Trails rope course, unbeknownst to many that it was the scene of an accident just days before.

Authorities said Robert Belvoir, 52, was at the highest point of the Sky Trail ropes course on a zipline when his harness somehow broke loose. He fell 30 feet and hit the cement floor. Belvoir was rushed to Dr. Phillips Hospital but later died from his injuries, according to authorities.

Family members said Belvoir was at the attraction with his 25-year-old daughter, Penelope, a graduate of the University of Central Florida. She completed the course right before her father and then witnessed him plummet to the cement floor, officials said.

Belvoir's funeral is set for Wednesday afternoon.

Attorney Mark Nation said his client, Penelope Belvoir, is filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

[RELATED: Sky Trail victim's daughter files suit]

Meanwhile, tourists continued using the other parts of the course.

"I was kind of scared going on seeing the accident, but I think the part where it actually occurred was on the side," said Isa, a tourist from Indiana.

"Did you feel safe?" asked Local 6's Sheli Muniz.

"I felt safe but I think there's always, you always feel a little dangerous, when you're up that high," said Isa.

Isa and her group from Indiana said they had just bought the tickets when they saw the news on television that the family of Belvoir is suing following the accident.

"I had complete confidence in her judgment and we spoke to the people and the part where they had the accident is just down, they are not using that and if you look at it it's a lot different experience than the rest of it," said chaperone Rick Wells.

For other tourists, it's just too soon.

"Absolutely too soon to open it up a week after someone's died in there or at least not to have a safety net up," said tourist, Chaz Washington.

"I'm a paranoid mother though so I am a little over the top when it comes to danger for my kids so I would probably tell them they couldn't do it," said Carolyn Washington.

The owner of Sky Trail, Jim Liggett, told Local 6, "We found where the accident happened on course. It happened on the Sky Rail, all Sky Rails that have been manufactured has been closed down all over the country, so this won't happen again. We're researching to make sure that it doesn't happen again."


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