An amusement park worker is suing his employer for over £200,000, claiming he suffered a stroke and burst an artery after trying to avoid hitting a child on a 100-foot water slide. Kristian Wright, 38, was riding the Waterforce slide at Blackgang Chine park on the Isle of Wight in August 2022 when he saw a child at the bottom.
Wright alleges that in a bid to prevent a collision, he used his hands and feet to brake and slow down his inflatable. He claims this action resulted in burns to his hands and feet and injured an artery in his neck, which subsequently led to a stroke. The incident has left him disabled, unable to drive, and struggling with mobility, according to his claim filed at the High Court.
Wright's barrister stated that a colleague allegedly released his inflatable boat without ensuring the slide was clear. Once Wright reached the steep section, he realized another rider was still at the bottom. His barrister further claimed that his employer failed to take reasonable care for his safety and employed inadequately trained staff. Wright was pursuing a career in social work at the time of the accident, which he now claims is lost.
The park's operator, Vectis Ventures Ltd, admitted primary liability for the accident itself but disputes that the incident caused the stroke. The defense argued that Wright may have been partially at fault for taking an unsafe route down the slide, citing CCTV footage that they claim shows him looking down the slide and seeing the child before proceeding. The defense asserts that Wright was fully trained and should have waited for the slide to be clear.