Mum sues water park over 8yo's 'traumatic' injury

“We allege that park staff failed to properly educate (the girl) on how to go down the ride safely, and that if a risk assessment had been done they would’ve identified the potential for injury." Distressing content.

A Queensland mum whose eight-year-old daughter was severely injured on a water slide at WhiteWater World is suing the popular theme park’s parent company for more than $1m.

The woman lodged a claim through the Queensland Supreme Court stating her daughter suffered bleeding for several weeks after the incident in November, 2020.

7News reports the young girl required two rounds of surgery to fix the injury, and the mum now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

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The statement of claim says the girl rode the Fully 6 water slide at WhiteWater World and, during her descent, her legs were uncrossed by the “forceful impact” of the water.

7News reports that caused “water entering her body at force, causing a significant tear or rupture of her vaginal wall and bleeding”.

The mum also claims she couldn’t find a lifeguard after the incident.

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The family at Dreamworld. Picture: Courier Mail

Girl bled for "three weeks" after accident

The girl was taken to the theme park’s medical clinic before being taken to Logan Hospital.

She lost an estimated 500mL of blood and needed towels between her logs to stop her “bleeding profusely”.

7News reports the girl spent four nights at Logan Hospital, and suffered vaginal bleeding for another three weeks after she was discharged.

She also suffered abdominal pain, anxiety, nightmares and withdrawn behaviour.

The mum has since been diagnosed with PTSD and post-traumatic anxiety symptoms.

The claim against Ardent Leisure and contractor Swimplex Aquatics is for the loss of past and future income and superannuation, and totals $1,027,561.

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Dreamworld's parent company Ardent Leisure has been sued for more than $1m. Picture: Courier Mail

"This was an incredibly traumatic injury for somebody to suffer at any age"

A lawyer acting for the mum and her daughter told 7News Ardent Leisure was liable because staff failed to warn the girl she needed to keep her legs crossed throughout the entire descent.

“This was an incredibly traumatic injury for somebody to suffer at any age, let alone a girl who’s just eight years old,” Bree Smith from Shine Lawyers said.

“We allege that park staff failed to properly educate (the girl) on how to go down the ride safely, and that if a risk assessment had been done they would’ve identified the potential for injury.

“Our evidence is that there were no lifeguards in the splashdown who responded to the injury area at the time, and that it was up to (the girl’s) mum to get her help for what was plainly a serious injury.

“This incident has had a profound impact on the family, and it’s likely it will take a great deal of time yet for them to recover.”

Originally published as Mum sues water park over 8yo's 'traumatic' injury