Brisbane Flight Centre’s Slip ‘n Slide Christmas party ends with man going to hospital

A WORLD-famous Brisbane office Christmas party – featuring a slip-and-slide and likened to a scene from The Wolf of Wall Street – ended with a serious slip-up.

AN EPIC work Christmas party likened to a scene from The Wolf of Wall Street ended in an employee being knocked unconscious and rushed to hospital.

Flight Centre’s Brisbane headquarters earned worldwide attention when photos of their end-of-year office slip-and-slide went viral.

OFFICE PARTY: Slip and slide celebrations go viral

But The Courier-Mail can reveal a male employee spent the weekend before Christmas in hospital after suffering serious head injuries.

Paul Gaffney at the office party.

Paul Gaffney, who had donned a blonde wig and rashie to slip down the slide, was knocked unconscious on his second run.

Mr Gaffney, who is short-of stature, defended the event and said it should continue next year.

“The second time I ran up I was going to launch from a bit closer in when I slipped backwards,” he said.

“I was out for about 20 to 30 seconds … It was a bit of a whack but it was all right.”

The 41-year-old said he was up and talking soon after the accident but spent the weekend in hospital under observation for head injuries.

Paul Gaffney was injured in the Flight Centre slip and slide party.

Photos and videos of the raucous event at the Flight Centre’s Queen St head office, now in its sixth year, have been a social media hit with hashtags including #wolfofqueenst.

Paul Gaffney at the Flight Centre party.

But a Flight Centre colleague was not impressed, describing the terrible sound of Mr Gaffney’s head hitting the floor.

“It was a sickening thud – it was awful,” she said. “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt – everyone thinks it’s so hysterical that it went viral but someone got hurt.”

Photos show employees, including Flight Centre Australia’s executive general manager Tom Walley, sliding down the sudsy mat, narrowly avoiding hundreds of onlookers and other obstacles.

“Absolutely, the party should continue – it was just one minor accident that didn’t have any serious consequences,” Mr Gaffney said.

He said the 22 fellow slip and sliders had been fine and the incident “was just one of those things”.

Mr Gaffney said it was the first time he had been involved in the office celebrations.

“I had heard about the mystery of the famous Flight Centre slip-and-slide and I thought it was great – something different in an office environment,” he said.

While many co-workers dressed up in their best costumes, Mr Gaffney said the blonde wig was just something he found in the office.

Flight Centre spokesman Haydn Long said Mr Gaffney was “a really popular guy” with workers constantly asking how he was this week.

“We don’t want to see anyone get hurt, it’s always been a bit of fun,” Mr Long said.

“We have had a few cuts and bruises before but nothing like this.”