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Original poster

Fell off water slide on holiday?

250 replies

cheekymonk · 11/08/2017 19:05

Hi there. Have just returned from holiday on the Canaries and whilst there visited the obligatory water park. I had been on several slide whilst there, not consumed any alcohol
And had taken regular breaks and had top on to avoid sunburn. Whilst I was riding on a four ring ride with my DH, DS and DD I fell out of my tyre and hurtled out of the slide at speed, banging my head, losing a fair bite of blood and suffering amnesia. The lifeguards were attentive and I was cared for until an ambulance arrived. I was then taken to hospital and had an overnight stay. I was given 6 stitches and on an IV drop as
Not allowed food or food drink due to possible scan the following day(not done). I had an X-ray and was then certified fit to fly by Dr. I had travel insurance and paid the excess.
My query is whether the park was negligent? The attendants kept us waiting at top of slide for approx 10 mins. I am very obese and I think they were unsure about allowing me to ride. However I had been on an identical ride previously and been ok and the wait made me more anxious and weaker as they kept telling me off and to hold on tighter and keep my back straight. I struggled to do this for the time they kept us waiting which was much longer than others.
My head is painful and I feel the holiday was ruined by the experience. Not sure what to do? Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Laststop · 11/08/2017 19:10

Surely if they was a weight limit it would of been on a sign and I think most of the water slide are ride at your own risk may be wrong

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 11/08/2017 19:15

In what way were the park negligent? - in what way did they fail to behave with the expected level of care? I'm not sure how being kept waiting at the top of the slide fits that definition, to be honest.

Sometimes accidents are just - accidents, and no-one is to blame.

Original poster
cheekymonk · 11/08/2017 19:17

There wasn't an individual weight limit but there was a combined one I think. If I had realised this was a possible outcome obviously I wouldn't have gone on. There were others I ducked out of for safety reasons.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 11/08/2017 19:18

Why would being very overweight prevent you from being in a tyre Confused

Surely the extra weight anchors you in more? Or have I got that wrong

Starlight2345 · 11/08/2017 19:19

I hate posts like this..Makes the world h & safety mad...

You are fine to feel how you want..

But you are looking to make money out of a situation.

LaurieFairyCake · 11/08/2017 19:20

X posted

So you're saying that the others didn't weigh enough to stop it being unbalanced?

you poor thing Flowers

Starlight2345 · 11/08/2017 19:21

Can I also add I fractured my ankle at a water park many years ago..It meant my suntan stopped at my knee..

I also drank a lot of alcohol as a result.

but it never occurred to me to sue anyone.

SoPassRemarkable · 11/08/2017 19:23

Well there can't be a problem with the ride as hundreds and hundreds of people,go on it every day. I'm not sure why you had to hold on so tight while waiting that you then couldn't hold on for the duration of the ride.

Redglitter · 11/08/2017 19:23

Can't see how they've been negligent. It was an accident. Accidents happen. This automatic blame culture we have now where people expect compensation is ridiculous.

TwitterQueen1 · 11/08/2017 19:23

Give it up OP. I cannot see why you think the park was negligent.

The wait made you 'anxious and weaker'... really?

IdentifiesAsASloth · 11/08/2017 19:29

I'm sorry you feel your holiday was ruined.
It doesn't sound as if they were negligent though. You mention that you are unsure if your weight had something to do with it, can i ask how you would feel if they had weighed you beforehand?

I think any ride like this is a risk and you make the choice of whether it is worth it. The park staff can only do so much, some accidents happen by chance.

If you are really so shaken by it I would say it's best you do not go on a thrill seeking ride again as all of them have that slight chance of going wrong.

Original poster
cheekymonk · 11/08/2017 19:29

We were all sat in tyre ready to go but the guards kept talking/radioing each other and telling me off, asking that I hold on and sit straight whilst waiting. This did mean I struggled to hold on as tight when ride finally did begin. It did make me anxious as I wasn't sure if I was going to be allowed on it. I wasn't saying at all that it was others fault for not weighing as much as me. Had I known there was this much risk involved I wouldn't have taken kids there.
The guards were negligent by the time taken to debate allowing me on. If they knew I was going to be unsafe, they shouldn't have allowed me on.
I can't fault them afterwards but that was different guards.

OP posts:
Original poster
cheekymonk · 11/08/2017 19:30

I think being overweight makes you go faster Laurie but am not sure.

OP posts:
Mychildcouldnotbreaatfeed · 11/08/2017 19:35

They weren't negligent don't be ridiculous.

PotteringAlong · 11/08/2017 19:37

The guards were negligent by the time taken to debate allowing me on.

Why? Would you not have fallen off if they let you go down immediately?

TheClacksAreDown · 11/08/2017 19:37

Sounds like a horrible experience. However My honest advice is to let it go. Reasons why:

  • whether there is legal negligence (as opposed to moral) will be a matter of local law
  • trying to take any form of action remotely is incredibly difficult particularly when not an English speaking country
  • your financial losses are pretty small. Your holiday insurance excess plus maybe a bit of pain and suffering.
Anasnake · 11/08/2017 19:38

How do you know they were radioing each other about you ? Do you speak Spanish ? They radio each other to make sure the ride and pool are clear before letting the next lot down. There's quite often delays from previous riders,

Blodplod · 11/08/2017 19:39

I actually can't believe you posted this.. seriously didn't think people like you existed! If you were so nervous and anxious why did you still continue with the ride?

Crispsheets · 11/08/2017 19:40

Sorry it's an accident.
You were unlucky but these things happen

spanieleyes · 11/08/2017 19:40

But you only "think" the delay had something to do with your weight. it could have been caused by a hold up further down the slide, a problem at the bottom or a number of other issues. Were you over the combined weight limit, if so you shouldn't have gone on in the first place.

ggirl · 11/08/2017 19:41

I think being a heavier person makes it harder to hold on and stop yourself falling off ..fighting against gravity .

I don't think they were negligent ..you had good care and it was your decision to ride.

SophieGiroux · 11/08/2017 19:41

At Splashdown water parks in the UK they recommend you speak to a manager if BMI over 30 as more susceptible to injury.

www.splashdownwaterparks.co.uk/poole/visiting-info/bmi-calculator/

ParadiseCity · 11/08/2017 19:43

It sounds horrible OP. I came out of a ring once and stayed in the chute but banged my head and it was awful. I've also had amnesia and know how crap that is too. Glad you're ok now.

elevenclips · 11/08/2017 19:45

How heavy are you? And how heavy are the other three? And how did you fall out?

Usually the weight limits are for the sum of the riders?

elevenclips · 11/08/2017 19:46

Even if you are obese, if you are not that tall, you might only weigh what a moderately sized taller man weighs.

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