In two totally unrelated incidents at water parks this summer, park-goers fell at least 20 feet from waterslides, leaving the victims injured.
The first incident occurred at the Land of Illusion Aqua Adventure Park in Middletown, Ohio, when a 14-year-old girl accidentally fell about 25 feet from a waterslide into water. Olivia Kozuszek spent her 15th birthday at the Dayton Children’s Hospital getting spinal surgery for injuries she sustained on June 21 when she fell from an inflatable. She was expected to make a full recovery.
The water park said its “care and concern” are with Olivia and her family.
“As a park deeply committed to guest safety, we adhere to stringent standards and regulations set by the State of Ohio authorities,” the park stated. “Safety is our utmost priority, and we strive to create a safe and wholesome family experience for those looking to add more outdoor activities for family fun.”
There was no explanation as to how the accident occurred.
The second incident occurred on the fourth of July at the Lake
Photo Credit: landofillusion.com Winnepesaukah attraction, the Lake Winnie Amusement Park and SOAKya Water Park in Rossville, Georgia.
A boy was accompanied by an adult in a double tube on the Twist-N-Shout water ride when something went wrong and he flew off the slide.
Cheyanne Smith said that she was at the water park with her children when she saw the boy slung off the water slide and into the air. When he hit the ground, she said he wasn’t moving.
“But I didn’t stick around because I had the kids and if it was worse I didn’t want them to see it,” Smith wrote in a Facebook post. “I did see the dad carrying him and him crying.”
Catoosa County Public Information Officer John Pless said in a statement that the child was “conscious and alert but appeared to have scrapes and bruises” when paramedics arrived.
It was said that he fell on some rocks some 20 feet below the slide.
The park’s website states that double rider tubes have a 350-pound weight limit, while the single rider tubes have a 250-pound limit. The ride is described as “intense” and “not suitable for young riders or those with health conditions” and lists a minimum height requirement of 42 inches. It was not reported whether the boy and his riding partner satisfied those criteria. In a statement, however, Lake Wiinepesaukah Water Park said, “All safety guidelines were observed at the time an adult and the child entered the tube.”
At press time, the boy’s condition was unknown, and the ride has reopened after a state inspection, the park stated in a press release. Officer Pless said that officials don’t know what caused the boy to fall.
“The state of Georgia today reinspected the Twist-N-Shout water ride in operation, including the rider tubes, the ride foundation, and signage, and reopened it,” the release stated. “Lake Winnepesaukah is a family amusement park that prides itself on a safe, welcome atmosphere.”
Pless said that the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire “investigated, found the slide to be safe, and has authorized the park to reopen.”
