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.

That's beyond appalling.

Hasn't a little girl died at the park yesterday?? Sounds like it needed to be investigated ages ago

I hope it gets shut down.

I suspect this won’t be accurate if they sent the OP away saying they just stretched their ligament and there was no broken bone. :(:(

I am sorry to hear about that nasty break OP. Sounds awful.

I recently visited my small local water park. For context it opened in 2019 I think when we we first went there - all new inflatables and the pond weed had been cleared properly etc. We have visited 2x3 times per summer since then.

I went a week ago and for the first time I had concerns and so I have put my thoughts down below.

1. Staffing - without fail my local WP is staffed by teens. Some of them are good at the job but I have noticed that they generally like to chat to each other a lot when out on the water and don't always pay sufficient attention - especially as you often have parents out with children on the obstacles - I assume they think the parents are supervising.

We have a jump from a tall inflatable at ours. On a number of occasions the staff have been showing off to each other doing flips/ complex dives off these while they are supposed to be supervising. (Its feet first only for customers - just not setting a good example.)

Recently the one staff member supervising was shouting to those onshore that he was bored and actually left the obstacle course to go on shore. I was there with a teen and there were only 2 others (yes 4 in total) in the session so I kept an eye on all. From the shore he was a long way away if anything had happened.

2. Equipment - my park is using the same inflatables as in 2019. They didn't look to bad last summer - this year they are heavily patched, some of the parts (ginat balls on top were completely deflated). Climbing over some bits there were clear non-patched hissing leaks. Plus there was mould. And like you mentioned the inflatables are joined by giant velcro and in a few places they were coming apart.
   I don't know when or how they are safety inspected but I wouldn't pass these as fit for use by the public.

3. Number of users. When there are a low number of users a WP can be a great fun place and can be properly enjoyed. (OK I have been lucky and on a number of occasions it's bee sub 10 for ours when I think capacity is 40-50).
   Too many users greatly impacts safety - not only are there are lot more people to be kept an eye on - but there are the risks of the mad scramble/mad dash around the place.
   Part of my reason for visiting local place is that it is small and generally quiet first thing.
   I am not even going to start about the competitive groups of older teens rampaging around when smaller kids are let on there.

4. Swimming ability = You sign a form to say your child can swim competently. I imagine a number of parents would sign it whether or not their child can swim and some might think competent is able to do a few strokes.It's much more than that. I took my children to an unheated lido and they were tested there to confirm that they could swim 10 meters unaided before being let in. It's not a distance thing, but a strength thing - child falls in - do they panic? Can they get themselves back to an obstacle safely? Bear in mind it's easy to get tangled in pond weed or have a foot caught on an obstacle.

I could go on and on. I am not anti water parks but they need to be run safely with equipment inspections and appropriate levels of staffing. They need to decrease numbers allowed and there should be appropriate numbers of adults to smaller children. Similar age groups should be on at one time or just low numbers full stop. It would make these places more expensive I presume to run - I have no idea how profitable they are and whether that would mean large increases in prices but so be it.

@SammySueTwo All very good points.

They are very profitable compared to motorised water sports like banana boats and wakeboarding. Too many bored teens in charge of multiple birthday parties. I just don't see how they can keep an eye on all the kids. Parents drop their kids off for parties and leave. Often the organising parent isn't in the water. I think the ratio of kids to lifeguards needs looking at urgently. a

Also they need to do adult only, and kids only sessions. LL has way too many stag/hen do's and too much alcohol.

Regarding safety regulations I’ve only found one industry paid
-for accreditation scheme run by a charity called the Royal Life Saving Society.

They have many parks across the country signed up and award gold or silver accreditations. LL was one of their first gold members.

It does appear a curiously close commercial partnership though. For LL the RLSS train all the lifeguards, run annual audits and grant the accreditation. When LL was threatened with closure they even spoke about against RBWM in the press. See 3rd paragraph in this link:

www.windsorobserver.co.uk/news/20026799.liquid-leisure-windsor-aqua-park-deeply-worried-future/

Even more peculiar are what appears to be adverts for manufacturers highlighting the ‘very attractive ROI’ and payback within 1 year. That explains the tremendous growth in parks across the country. Just take a look at RLSS’s map:

www.rlss.org.uk/aqua-parks

www.rlss.org.uk/Pages/Site/water-safety-advice-for-your-business/Category/aqua-park-manufacturers

So tragic and sad what happened to the girl :-(

We have a similar one where I live and a friend got foot severed there on the inflatable course.

I hope you make a good recovery OP

could you sue? A waver is not the be all and dnd all and due diligence on their part is still required. Personally I would probably not sue as it can take so long and cost so much, but maybe a joined effort with other victims?

these water parks sounds very dodgy and money grabbing 🙁

that poor girl and her family, heartbreaking. Serious failings on the part of the park

I’m really sorry what I say is going to offend people. This is not aimed at the poor girl who sadly lost her life. If you can’t see when you turn up at these places there is risk of an injury . Of course there’s always risk of an injury like a break on a total wipe out kind of course. We go to one near us so I’m not a wrap in cotton wool kind of mum at all.
what is not expected is to drown , there should be serious questions asked if it is allowed to re open. How can a child disappear how can the life guards not notice a child drowning ? My heart hurts for the little girls family.

It is an absolute tragedy. What should have been a fun day out has ended like this.

A number of these parks seem to have sprung up locally since the pandemic. Many of them also seem to be embroiled in planning disputes. I find the whole set up questionable, but DS has begged to go with his friends. I won't be allowing him in future - it seems like too big a risk.

@JessesMum777888 makes a good point about being aware of risk when you visit these places. My view is this.

Aqua parks are very new. Unlike skiing or horse riding where you know what you’re signing up for, I’d argue many don’t with an Aqua park.

In my case it was my first visit and I equated ‘inflatable’ and ‘water’ with benign fun. It was an alternative to the beach or swimming pool. Now I’m no stranger to water based danger and have kayaked on serious white water around Europe. I have to say I was shocked at the overwhelming sense of danger I felt when I got onto the course only heightened by having my daughter with me. Entrapment, collision, obscured lines of site, a very slippery surface with bodies zooming all over it out of control.

Knowing risks is one thing but likelihood of injury another and, unlike skiing, most have no frame of reference. I certainly didn’t.

Put it this way. If we were talking about a dangerous place of work you’d expect a ‘days since last accident’ sign displayed prominently. I know that’s never going to happen in a place like this but folks need something to make a judgement on.

I live not far from here. Its staffed mainly by teenagers and its absolute chaos when its busy.

it's back open again today apparently (according to news reports)

I’m not sure the site in Shepperton run by the same operator ever closed. Surely they should only open when an official assessment of safety practices gives the all-clear to the public?

I would have thought an official investigation would take more time...surprised if it's open again, but I saw the same news item. Is Shepperton swimming only?

They told staff on Sunday they would reopen today!!! I can't believe they are allowed to reopen so quickly.

I live near LL. My understanding is that the young girl who tragically drowned was not on the AquaPark but swimming at the beach area. It may be worth waiting for more information rather than speculating as to what happened?

This is my understanding too. Nonetheless the safety concerns about the aqua park are valid and the safety requirements when using the beach need to be reviewed.

Totally agree but I’m always a bit uncomfortable about speculation in absence of facts on specific cases.

I agree, they make you sign a waiver advising it can be a dangerous activity and that any swimming can lead to injury or death. I've signed a few in various activities for my child, such as trampoline parks, rock climbing, etc. I'd say it should be clear from signing a waiver that there's an element of danger.
I think the inquiry needs to be quick and the decision made how to proceed, whether it be close it down or more safety procedures in place.
It's terrible a child has lost their life. The lifeguards will definitely be reeling from the loss, open water is so dangerous and so difficult to see in when under the water.
I can't imagine the families pain.

I agree.

11 year old girl wenr missed and was sadly found drowned. I looked at the pictures of this place and I flabbergasted at how dangerous it looks. How the hell was permission every granted for adults to use it, let alone young children?

@Georgeskitchen what makes you say that out of interest?

My kids have been dozens of times without incident.