A first-person simulation reveals the harrowing experience of riding the “Euthanasia Rollercoaster,” a chilling concept by Lithuanian engineer Julijonas Urbonas. Designed in 2010, this theoretical attraction combines thrill and mortality, earning it the title of an artistic “death machine.”
The Design That Pushes Boundaries
The rollercoaster’s premise is as stark as it is unsettling. Standing at an immense 1,600 feet, it launches riders at speeds of up to 223 mph, propelling them through seven inversions with progressively tightening loops. The intense 10Gs of gravitational force induced by these loops would ultimately lead to loss of consciousness and death.
Seating 24 passengers, the ride includes a choice: pressing “stop” to exit or “go” to proceed. Urbonas explains, “The rider experiences euphoria, thrill, tunnel vision, and ultimately a blackout before death.”
A first-person simulation of the coaster was recently shared by YouTube channel Great American Coasters, showcasing its unnerving journey. Riders ascend a slow chain lift, allowing time to reflect before the steep descent. As the simulation progresses, the staggering speed and G-force are vividly depicted, showing how the human body succumbs to the pressure.
Urbonas described the concept as a blend of art and engineering meant to provoke thought rather than literal execution. The project garnered recognition, winning the Public Prize of New Technological Art in 2013.
While unlikely to ever be built, the “Euthanasia Rollercoaster” continues to spark debate about mortality, ethics, and the power of human innovation.
