A former amusement park worker is suing his employers for over £200,000, alleging he suffered a stroke and burst an artery in his neck after attempting to avoid a collision with a child on a 100-foot water slide. The incident occurred in August 2022 at the Blackgang Chine park on the Isle of Wight.
Kristian Wright, 38, was riding an inflatable down the park's Waterforce slide when he saw a child at the bottom. In an effort to prevent a crash, Wright claims he used his hands and feet to brake, which he states resulted in burns to his extremities and damage to a neck artery, ultimately leading to a stroke.
Wright is suing the park's operator, Vectis Ventures Ltd, alleging that an "incompetent" colleague released his inflatable without ensuring the slide was clear. The lawsuit contends that the incident left him disabled, impacting his ability to drive and navigate stairs, and has ended his aspirations of a career in social work.
The amusement park has admitted primary liability for the accident itself but disputes that the incident directly caused Wright's stroke, arguing that he may have been partially at fault for braking unsafely. The park's defense suggests that Wright could see the child on the slide before entering the watercraft and that he proceeded despite this knowledge.
According to court documents filed by Wright's barrister, it was routine for employees to ride the slide at the end of their shifts. The colleague operating the ride allegedly launched Wright's inflatable almost immediately, without confirming the slide was clear. Wright's barrister stated that his client remains significantly disabled despite receiving support.
The park's defense counters that radios were provided for communication between operators, and that staff at the bottom of the slide could warn supervisors if it was not clear. They assert that CCTV footage shows Wright observing the child on the slide before getting into his boat and acknowledging the ride was clear. The defense claims Wright was fully trained and should have waited for the slide to be clear, thus contributing to the accident through his own actions.
The case has been filed at the High Court, and a full trial will take place unless a settlement is reached between the parties.