An Australian woman who has been left “trapped in her body” and unable to communicate with her family and friends after an accident at an amusement park has been accused of theft. Shylah Rodden was hit by a roller coaster while attempting to retrieve her phone from the tracks during the Melbourne Royal Air Show in September 2022. Her injuries were described as “horrific” and she could have been killed. And while her condition has since been updated to stable, she’s now unable to speak. However, the court still has Shylah Rodden’s name down to attend a hearing regarding an alleged theft on Wednesday, January 11.
Shylah was brought out of a medically-induced coma in November 2022. While she has continued to improve in small ways since then, she remains in the hospital and still cannot communicate with her loved ones. With that in mind, it would be impossible for her to answer to any charges in court.
Public documents for the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria show that Shylah’s name is still on the roster for a hearing this week. She was due to appear with her lawyers to answer theft charges that stem back to an incident that happened before her injuries. The details of the accusations are sealed and will not be made public until the magistrate either dismisses the charges or the case proceeds, according to the Daily Mail. However, given the current situation, it’s unlikely the case will go any further. However, given the current situation, it’s unlikely the case will go any further.
Shylah Rodden’s family launched a GoFundMe following her accident to help support her recovery. They set a $20,000 goal, and have raised $26,228 AUD at the time of writing. Those who organized the fundraiser insisted the money will go not to the 26-year-old’s family but to Shylah herself, as she’s likely to need extensive therapy, rehab, and adaptive needs at home when she’s eventually discharged from hospital.
