Thirsty Emirates passenger sues airline over broken ankle, marriage breakup
A Melbourne passenger is suing an airline giant, claiming that its refusal to serve her extra water on-board triggered a chain reaction which led to a broken ankle, the collapse of her marriage and loss of self-confidence.
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A Melbourne woman claims Emirates airlines’ refusal to serve her adequate water on a long-haul flight led to a broken ankle, the loss of her self-confidence and the collapse of her marriage.
Lina Di Falco, 54, has told Victoria’s Supreme Court she suffers constant ankle pain from an injury on the March 2015 flight from Melbourne to Dubai, after repeated requests for water.
Ms Di Falco said she was given just one glass with her meal more than an hour after the plane took off, but that wasn’t enough.
Barrister John Ribbands, representing Emirates, told the court the plane had a water fountain available for passengers’ use, but Ms Di Falco said she did not see it.
The passenger said had asked for water four times before going to the bathroom, feeling dizzy and like she was going to vomit.
She fainted and hurt her ankle on the way, and described the pain as nearly 10-out-of-10.
After returning to Australia from her holiday, the Moonee Valley City Council employee was told her ankle was broken.
She underwent surgery and didn’t go back to work for more than two months.
Ms Di Falco, a mother, is suing Emirates for damages, with her barrister Ron Meldrum QC saying she had been an “adventurous” traveller who loved dancing and skiing before the incident.
“It’s always aching ... since the accident,” Ms Di Falco said, adding she could no longer do the things she loved, like gardeningand exercise.
She also said she had withdrawn from friends and her marriage had broken down because of the injury.
“Because of the accident, I couldn’t be ... the wife that he married,” Ms Di Falco said, referring to her frustration at being unable to keep up with domestic duties.
Ms Di Falco said she had been a happy person before the accident but “the confidence I had for myself, it’s all gone”.
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Mr Meldrum said his client had always needed to drink “an awful lot of water”, consuming one litre during the day before taking another litre to bed.
She had a bottle of water at the airport before the March 15 flight but was not allowed to board with it.
After collapsing, Ms Di Falco said airline staff gave her a large water bottle for the rest of the 14-hour flight.
Ms Di Falco complained to Emirates that passengers hadn’t been offered enough refreshments and her Middle Eastern holiday was wasted because of her injured ankle.
The trial is expected to continue before Justice Jacinta Forbes tomorrow.