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A man has filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney World over injuries sustained on a waterslide he rode despite being more than 30 pounds over its weight limit at the time, the New York Post reports.
Eugene Stirckland claims he was dealing with "catastrophic injuries" sustained on the Downhill Double Dipper at Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark in July 2021. Strickland was 334 pounds at the time, which was 34 pounds more than the ride's limit, though it's unclear whether he was unaware of the weight limit at the time of the incident.
Stickland reportedly "became momentarily airborne" before landing "with force onto the hard plastic surface of the slide" after losing control of the inner tube he was riding in, the complaint states. The lawsuit blames the waterslide's design and "exhilarating speeds" for the "bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, scarring, disfigurement, mental anguish, [and] loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life” Strickland is still dealing with today, the complaint states.
Strickland also blamed Disney World for direct negligence as he argued that it failed to establish safe premises and was aware of the "safety hazard" and "concealed trap" the waterslide presented that factored into his injuries. The complainant is seeking $50,000 in damages from Walt Disney World, which was already dealing with a $2 million lawsuit after a Long Island mother claimed she was scarred by a "mammoth" wave at its Typhoon Lagoon resort, the New York Post reported.