Builders from hit Channel 9 show The Block are being sued after sick child injured in bathroom disaster

Builders from the hit Channel 9 show The Block are being sued after a disastrous bathroom incident where a shower door collapsed on a child undergoing cancer treatment.

Vito and Tanya from The Block at 8 Bronte Court Hampton Picture: Supplied

The builders on the hit show The Block are being sued after a shower door collapsed on a child undergoing lifesaving cancer treatment.

Thomas Hood, who was 10 at the time, suffered serious injuries to his hands and left ankle after the incident in a home renovated on the reality program.

Le-Anne Hood, the mother of Thomas Hood, 13, has launched legal action on her son’s behalf in the Victorian County Court against Nine In Six Builders Pty Ltd claiming the injuries Thomas suffered were a result of negligence and breach of duty.

Ms Hood told the Sunday Herald Sun that she and her son were left with life-changing scars from the falling shower door.

“Healing and respite in this home was far from it, and we are both affected to this day (by the shower door incident),” Ms Hood said.

“I could list a hundred things that go wrong a week ever since this incident. The bottom line is, no one seemed to care about what happened to my son.

“My child couldn’t cut his 11th birthday cake because his hands were so heavily bandaged, he could not walk, he was a shell of the boy we all loved.”

Thomas Hood, couldn’t cut his 11th birthday cake because his hands were so heavily bandaged. Picture: Supplied

Nine In Six has long been associated with The Block and was involved in the renovation of the five houses in Bronte Court, Hampton which were featured on the 2021 season of the popular Channel 9 show.

Thomas, who is now in remission, and his mother were staying at 8 Bronte Court in August 2022 while Thomas was undergoing treatment for aggressive T-Cell Lymphoma when he was allegedly injured by the shower door falling on him.

Number 8 Bronte Court was assigned to the team of Tanya and Vito Guccione on The Block and was sold for $3,800,000.01 to Melbourne businessman Danny Wallis. Wallis makes the house available to charities via his Danny Wallis Philanthropic Foundation and Thomas and Ms Hood’s stay was arranged by the My Room charity.

Neither Wallis, Tanya and Vito Guccione or My Room are named in the statement of claim.

According to court documents, Thomas suffered injuries to his right hand, thumb and tendons, his left thumb, his left ankle joint and heel, and was left with scarring, disfigurement, persistent pain, dysfunction and psychological/psychiatric injury including anxiety, depression, and trauma as a result of the glass door breaking on him.

It is also claimed that Le-Anne Hood suffered injury, loss and damage as a result of the incident including post-traumatic stress disorder and nervous shock.

A photograph of one of the bathrooms in the property, taken in the lead up to the auction. Picture: Supplied

It is claimed Nine In Six “ought reasonably to have known that there was a glass shower door at the premises which was susceptible to striking nearby wall tiles and breaking, not aligned properly, not designed properly, showing signs of wear and tear, susceptible to rolling up and off/over the rail, (and) insufficiently tightened or tensioned.”

It is alleged the company failed to ensure the shower door was safe, properly installed and fit for use.

It is also claimed the injury and loss suffered by Thomas and his mother was a result of a breach of the statutory duties owed under Wrongs Act.

Thomas and Ms Hood are seeking damages for future loss of earning capacity, past and future medical expenses, care and assistance costs, and economic loss.

Erin Monsalve Fear, Associate at Carbone Lawyers, said Thomas’s injuries should not have happened.

“Tommy and his mum, Le-Anne, were provided with this accommodation as an opportunity for some respite amidst his cancer journey,” Ms Monsalve Fear said.

Tommy and his mum Le-Anne Hood pictured in May 2022. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“Unfortunately, instead of respite, Tommy and Le-Anne were faced with the heartbreaking incident in which Tommy suffered severe and long-lasting injuries, including severe scarring and ongoing pain.

“As a young boy who had already dealt with the unthinkable, this incident was devastating for both Tommy and Le-Anne and frankly, was entirely preventable.

“This incident is something that should never have occurred and could have been avoided if the appropriate level of care was taken.”

Nine In Six Builders were contacted.

Originally published as Builders from hit Channel 9 show The Block are being sued after sick child injured in bathroom disaster