# Euthanasia Coaster

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The **Euthanasia Coaster** is a hypothetical [steel roller coaster](/source/Steel_roller_coaster) and [euthanasia device](/source/Euthanasia_device) designed with the sole purpose of killing its passengers.[1] The concept was conceived in 2010 and made into a [scale model](/source/Scale_model) by [Lithuanian](/source/Lithuania) artist Julijonas Urbonas, a [PhD candidate](/source/PhD_candidate) at the [Royal College of Art](/source/Royal_College_of_Art) in London.

Urbonas, who had formerly been an amusement park employee, stated that the goal of his concept roller coaster is to take lives "with elegance and euphoria",[2] either for [euthanasia](/source/Euthanasia) or [execution](/source/Execution) purposes.[3] John Allen, who had been the president of the [Philadelphia Toboggan Company](/source/Philadelphia_Toboggan_Company), inspired Urbonas with his description of the "ultimate" roller coaster as one that "sends out 24 people and they all come back dead".[4]

## Design

The concept design of the layout begins with a steep-angled [lift](/source/Lift_hill) that takes riders up 500 metres (1,600 ft) to the top[1], a climb that would take a few minutes to complete, allowing the passengers to contemplate their life. [3][5] (For comparison, the tallest roller coaster ever built, [Falcons Flight](/source/Falcons_Flight), has a max height of 195 m (640 ft).) [6]) From there, all passengers are given the choice to exit the train if they wish to do so. If they do not, they will have some time to say their [last words](/source/Last_words).

All passengers are required to press a button to continue the ride, which then takes the cars down a 500 m (1,600 ft) drop, propelling the train at speeds up to 360 kilometres per hour (220 mph; 100 m/s), close to its [terminal velocity](/source/Terminal_velocity), before flattening out and speeding into the first of its seven slightly [clothoid](/source/Clothoid) [inversions](/source/Roller_coaster_inversions). [3] Each inversion would decrease in [diameter](/source/Diameter) to maintain the lethal 10 "g" onto passengers as the train loses speed. After a sharp right-hand turn, the train would enter a straight track that goes back to the station, where the dead are unloaded and new passengers can board.[3]

## Mechanism of action

The Euthanasia Coaster would kill its passengers through prolonged [cerebral hypoxia](/source/Cerebral_hypoxia), or insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.[1] The ride's seven inversions would inflict 10 *g* (g-force) on its passengers for 60 seconds, causing g-force related symptoms starting with [greyout](/source/Greyout_(medical)) through [tunnel vision](/source/Tunnel_vision) to [black out](/source/Syncope_(medicine)), and eventually [g-LOC](/source/G-LOC) (g-force induced [loss of consciousness](/source/Loss_of_consciousness)) and [death](/source/Death).[3] Subsequent inversions or a second run of the rollercoaster would serve as insurance against unintentional survival of more robust passengers.[3]

## Exhibition

The Euthanasia Coaster was first shown as part of the HUMAN+ display at the [Science Gallery](/source/Science_Gallery) in [Dublin](/source/Dublin) in 2012.[1] The display was later named the year's flagship exhibition by the Science Gallery.[7][8] Within this theme, the coaster highlights the issues that come with [life extension](/source/Life_extension).[9] The item was also displayed at the HUMAN+ exhibit at [Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona](/source/Centre_de_Cultura_Contempor%C3%A0nia_de_Barcelona) in 2015.[10]

## In popular culture

In 2012, Norwegian rock group [Major Parkinson](/source/Major_Parkinson) released "Euthanasia Roller Coaster", a digital single with lyrics alluding to Urbonas's Euthanasia Coaster.[11]

[Sequoia Nagamatsu](/source/Sequoia_Nagamatsu)'s novel *How High We Go in the Dark*, published on January 18, 2022, prominently features a euthanasia roller coaster for children afflicted with an incurable plague.[12]

The 2023 television series *[Mrs. Davis](/source/Mrs._Davis)* features a roller coaster as a method of ending one's life.

## References

1. Solon, Olivia (6 April 2011). ["The Future of the Human Species Explored"](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/human-plus-science-gallery). *WIRED Science*. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 24 April 2011.

1. Lamar, Cyriaqe (18 April 2011). ["The Euthanasia Coaster, the Last Roller Coaster You'll Ever Ride"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180623085058/https://io9.gizmodo.com/5793305/the-euthanasia-coaster-the-last-roller-coaster-youll-ever-ride). Gawker Media. Archived from [the original](https://io9.gizmodo.com/5793305/the-euthanasia-coaster-the-last-roller-coaster-youll-ever-ride) on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2011.

1. ["Euthanasia Coaster"](https://julijonasurbonas.lt/euthanasia_coaster). 2 October 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2022.

1. ["A Rollercoaster Designed to Kill Humanely"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160909231724/http://designtaxi.com/news/34579/A-Rollercoaster-Designed-to-Kill-Humanely/?page=4). *DesignTaxi*. Halls Create Arts Pte Ltd. 20 April 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.designtaxi.com/news/34579/A-Rollercoaster-Designed-to-Kill-Humanely/?page=4) on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2011.

1. Urbonas, Julijonas (2010). ["Julijonas Urbonas"](https://julijonasurbonas.lt/euthanasia_coaster). *julijonasurbonas.lt*

1. Marden, Duane. ["Falcons Flight"](https://rcdb.com/21315.htm). *[Roller Coaster Database](/source/Roller_Coaster_Database)*. Retrieved 2026-01-01.

1. ["HUMAN+ The Future of Our Species"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191216232121/https://dublin.sciencegallery.com/humanplus/). Trinity College Dublin. 1 February 2011. Archived from [the original](https://dublin.sciencegallery.com/humanplus/) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2011.

1. Sheridan, Cormac (15 April 2011). ["HUMAN+ Forecasting Our Future"](https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/04/human-forecasting-our-future.html). *NewScientist Culturelab*. Reed Business Information Ltd. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110418054416/https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/04/human-forecasting-our-future.html) 2011-04-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2011.

1. Gorman, Michael John (22 April 2011). ["HUMAN+ explores the technologically enhanced future of our species"](https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2011/apr/22/human-plus-technologically-enhanced). *Notes and Theories: Dispatches from the Science Desk*. Guardian News and Media Ltd. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210111040236/https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2011/apr/22/human-plus-technologically-enhanced) 11 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2011.

1. ["Human+"](http://www.cccb.org/ca/exposicions/fitxa/-humans/129032). *CCCB*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151124181407/http://www.cccb.org/ca/exposicions/fitxa/-humans/129032) 24 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 December 2015.

1. ["Major Parkinson er tilbake"](https://www.ba.no/puls/major-parkinson-er-tilbake/s/1-41-6773136) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210111040157/https://www.ba.no/puls/major-parkinson-er-tilbake/s/1-41-6773136) 11 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine Bergensavisen. Bergensavisen AS 23 July 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013

1. [“Strap in for highs and lows with the pandemic novel 'How High We Go in the Dark'“](https://www.npr.org/2022/01/28/1075543294/pandemic-how-high-we-go-in-the-dark-review-sequoia-nagamatsu). Retrieved 26 August 2024.

## External links

- [Computer animated simulation of the ride](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEklVDlqwbQ)
- [Urbonas explaining his design](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKmKLZOAT38)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Euthanasia Coaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia_Coaster) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia_Coaster?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.