Extra safety measures on Parc Astérix rapids ride
Parc Astérix fitted large safety nets to the boats of Romus et Rapidus to prevent riders from ending up in the water during the ride. The measure gave the Intamin rapids ride a visible safety update, set against the memory of the fatal 2006 accident.
More context
Parc Astérix made a striking safety change to Romus et Rapidus in 2016. Large nets were fitted to the round boats of the rapids ride, intended to stop guests from ending up in the water during the journey. For a rapid river, that kind of adjustment is immediately visible: it does not alter the course itself, but it does affect how riders experience the attraction and how the park communicates safety. The measure carries extra weight because of the ride’s history. Romus et Rapidus opened in 1989 and was built by Intamin, placing it in the same wider family as Piraña at Efteling and Radja River at Walibi Belgium. In 2006, however, the attraction was the scene of a fatal accident when a Belgian boy fell from a boat and drowned. The ride remained closed for a year afterwards, and its former name, La Descente du Styx, disappeared. For visitors and enthusiasts, the news shows how a classic water ride can change over time without losing its basic concept. Romus et Rapidus remained a Roman-themed rapids ride, but gained a permanent visible safety layer rooted directly in its own history.