Liquid Leisure - Broken Leg - Aqua Park

[Hammeri1]

I have a cautionary tale and an appeal for help.

On Sunday June 19th I visited Liquid Leisure Inflatable Aqua Park in Windsor with my family. It was my surprise Father’s Day gift.

My 12 yr old daughter and I went on the main course along with around 60 other people. I was immediately concerned by the loose velcro joins between the inflatable sections.
The gaps and loose fabric were an obvious entrapment risk. After 15 mins I slipped on a small sloping section, my right leg went under the loose velcro and became trapped and then broke in 2 places, fibula and tibia.
I heard it break. The lifeguards got me to the bank but didn’t think I’d broken my leg, saying it was probably ligaments. They gave me ice and crutches. They then said it was ok for my eldest daughter to finish the session unaccompanied on the course and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t stop her. They gave me ice and crutches. I found my wife and with her help managed to get out of my wetsuit and dressed.
Finally I made my way about 200m, on crutches, to the exit.
We called 111 and they arranged for an assessment at Reading Hospital. There the triage nurse immediately suspected a broken leg which was quickly confirmed by X-ray.

I’ve just returned home after a week in hospital and an operation to fix a steel plate and screws to my fibula and wire around my tibia. I’m in plaster facing 2 weeks keeping my leg above my heart, another 4 completely non-load bearing, another 6 with very light load. Summer ruined for me and the whole family and my ankle will never be the same again.
I’ve never broken a bone or suffered a dislocation.

I reported the incident to Environmental Health who have already visited the site and begun an investigation.
They have specifically asked that if anyone else has been injured at the park to come forward and I would urge anyone who has suffered to do so. Please write to [email protected].

The park advertises family fun for kids 6yrs and up. What they don’t do is make you aware of the many risks of serious injury.
They insist you sign a waiver before participating but don’t emphasis the significant risk of injury.
Interestingly their terms and conditions do say that anyone prone to dislocating joints or who has suffered a dislocation avoid the park but this message is given no prominence on their site or physical media at the park.
On a warm day 4000 or more visit the park. There have
been serious accidents and there will be more. I want to make sure people only participate when they are fully aware of the risks.
My advice is find your water based fun another way.

Oh my gosh the park is now closed due to an incident this afternoon. There were lots of police, 2 helicopter’s, many ambulances, a lot of confusion and to much concern as we think it involved 2 children 😔 I’m just prying all concerned are safe and well. Sending lots of positive thoughts to all that where there….

A tragic, tragic incident.

Too many people, not enough lifeguards, many entrapment,
collision, falling risks, many obscure lines of sight so very hard for lifeguards to see people in danger. So much happening so quickly that also very difficult to intervene before situations escalate.

The whole regulatory framework around these places needs to tighten. Treat them like a combination between municipal swimming pools and theme parks.

These trip advisor reviews paint an accurate picture.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g1760757-d2313517-r849703878-Liquid_Leisure_Windsor-Datchet_Windsor_and_Maidenhead_Berkshire_England.html

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g1760757-d2313517-r852442406-Liquid_Leisure_Windsor-Datchet_Windsor_and_Maidenhead_Berkshire_England.html

@Hammeri1

Have you reported your accident to Thames valley police?.

I believe a child has died there. Please push forward your complaint and speak to a solicitor.

Yes, an 11 year old girl drowned and died there yesterday. Utterly tragic.

Wow. This was an accident waiting to happen then.

I hope your leg is better.

How awful for the little girl's family.

Heads should roll, bearing in mind their lack of safety was brought up several times before this tragic incident 😢

The whole situation is dreadful, my child went to a water park a couple of weeks ago (not that one) and I can't imagine If they hadnt come home

Even worse of it turns out to be something you'd already raised as an issue

God, that's awful. The poor child and their family.

I'm also sorry you've had such a nasty break.

My heart goes out to the family.

There are so many questions to be answered about safety.

The park are already subject to a planning dispute with RBWM Council. They breached conditions to set up the beach and inflatables in the first place so have been operating without planning consent for several years.

www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/62ab78deb50db9b9d68ec192

Environmental Health are also investigating the circumstances regarding my incident.

omg that's awful. I went to one which looked very very similar in Cornwall
and it looked unsafe, with little supervision.
But yeah, they think the disclaimer they get you to sign on the way in absolves them off responsibility. It doesn't.

Disgraceful

Isn’t this the sort of thing that Amanda Holden broke her leg on, it was abroad if I remember rightly.

@KangarooKenny Yes, she did:

amp.heart.co.uk/showbiz/celebrities/amanda-holden-broken-leg-heart-breakfast/

@Hammeri1 your injury sounds very similar to Amanda Holden (link in PP)

Horrible tragic event there. Very very busy and chaotic when we were there. I don't know what sort of regulations there are around aquaparks as they are pretty new but there should be stricter controls on numbers v lifeguards. Little kids shouldn't be on there will large groups of young adults (stag/hen do's and the like). I hope the planning permission issue is dealt with - I'm amazed it's taken years to set a court date.

What a tragic event, especially when out sounds like it could have been avoided.

@Hammeri1 really shocking. I guess now there'll be a full investigation and people held to account for any health and safety breaches

I'd be interested to know their accident record...how many broken bones, injuries each season?

Hi OP. You may have done this already but given there will be a police/HSE investigation into the tragic death of a young girl it would be just worth making sure they know about you and the fact that you reported concerns at the time .

It is terrible to know there was already an investigation taking place. I’m quite shocked parties from the age of 6 were allowed. There is no way the majority of children that age can confidently do the 50m that is in theory required from the disclaimer. When I think about how strict our gymnastics club is about no multiple jumpers on trampolines the combination of inflatables, water, large numbers of mixed ages etc feels so risky.

My daughter broke her leg in three parts at LL, 5 years ago, on her 12th birthday. The response we got from the owner was shocking. We have never stepped foot inside that place since (although they tried to compensate her with a free pass :/)

I'm an indoor pool lifeguard. I'm shocked.

Good luck with the recovery, OP.

How are these places allowed to operate without even planning? Surely doesn't say a lot about their approach to compliance.

signing a waiver is not enough to protect them if they are negligent in any way and don't meet the requirements of health and safety which is what Environmental Health will look at. The waiver protects them from your poor practices not you from theirs as it is a statutory duty they have.

I have to say the whole thing sounds like a nightmare, so sorry to hear of your injury but just to say I have shattered and dislocated both my ankles (thankfully at different times) with pins and plates both sides to both ankles - it was over 30 years ago and now I have faded scars and some rotation on one ankle that is causing issues but correctable with shoe insoles. Other than that they have been good if not 100%. Still able to do plenty. My advice is work your rehab hard and keep it moving with regular exercise over the years to come

Oh and remember the period you have to claim runs from your 18th Birthday so if your daughter is 17 there is still time to put in a claim although you may have issues regarding witnesses and records of practices at the time (although this would count against them)