Man Doing Work on Disneyland Ride Is Critically Injured in Fall

A 40-year-old La Habra man doing repair work on Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride Tuesday morning was critically injured when he fell 40 feet from a scaffold onto a concrete floor.

Jesse Brooks was in critical condition in the intensive-care unit at UCI Medical Center in Orange with fractured ribs and internal injuries, hospital spokeswoman Fran Tardiff said.

Brooks, an employee of Western Air and Refrigeration, was working on the air-conditioning system for the ride when the accident occurred shortly after 8:30 a.m., Disneyland spokesman John McClintock said.

Brooks “was spanning the rafters (scaffolding), jumping across from one to the other, and he didn’t make it,” said Anaheim Fire Capt. Craig Watson, who treated Brooks at the scene.

Watson said Brooks was installing a new air-conditioning and ventilation system in an area behind a colorful stage front that portrays a battle between two pirate ships and a scene of pirates raiding a village.

“He was able to break his fall somewhat and escape a serious head injury,” Watson said. “There were piles of scenery and supports below, so he was able to grab, slip, grab, slip . . . before he landed on his side.”

The popular ride was shut down about a month ago for annual maintenance and will remain closed for several more weeks as work continues, McClintock said.