MKRob Sports

Sophomore placekicker Maikon Bonani was hospitalized Saturday after plunging 35 feet from a ride while working at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

According to a release issued by the theme park, Bonani was working at the Skyride attraction. After sending a gondola out of the station, Bonani thought the door of the car might be unlocked, and grabbed the gondola to check it. The release said Bonani held onto the car for about 50 after it left the station’s platform. He was about 35 feet above the ground when he let go, and dropped into a landscaped area near the Jungala exhibit.

There were guests in the Skyride car at the time of the accident, but Busch Gardens said no one else was injured.

Bonani, a 20-year-old from Lake Wales, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was listed in fair condition Saturday night.

USF Coach Jim Leavitt told The St. Petersburg Times that Bonani had injured his T12 vertabra.

“Our entire program is praying for Maikon and happy that the injury was not life threatening,” Leavitt said in a statement. “I was able to visit him [Saturday night]. He’s in pain, but doing fine and resting.”

Bonani was 15-for-21 on field tries as a true freshman in 2008, with his biggest moment coming in his collegiate debut; a 43-yard field goal as time expired to beat 13th-ranked Kansas 37-34 in a nationally televised game at Raymond James Stadium.