Man hit and killed by rollercoaster 'as he searched for his phone at theme park'

The man, named as school-teacher James A. Young, is said to have entered a restricted area

(Getty)

A man was hit and killed by a rollercoaster after he jumped into a fenced-off area at a theme park to look for his phone.

The man, in his mid-40s, was hit by the Raptor ride at Cedar Point Amusement Park, in the American state of Ohio.

Erie County county coroner's office confirmed that a man had been killed after entering a restricted area of the park, in Sandusky on the banks of Lake Erie, on Thursday evening, American media reported.

The man was named by police as James A. Young, a teacher from East Canton in the state, WEWS-TV reported.

Cedar Point also confirmed the man's death in a tweet, saying its thought were with his family.

Park spokesman Bryan Edwards told CNN: "Park safety officials responded immediately to the situation. Unfortunately, the guest has passed away."

No one else was injured in the incident, according to Frost.

The Raptor can travel at speeds of up to 57mph, according to the Cedar Point website.

It is one of 17 rollercoasters at Cedar Point, which claims to be the "second oldest continually-operated amusement park in North America", having opened in 1870.