A primary school teacher has lost her £60,000 compensation claim against Go Ape after shattering her leg on a slide designed for children as young as three. Rosemary Mountain, 50, suffered a severe fracture when her trainer caught in the fabric of the 'Big Bounce' slide at Go Ape's Black Park site near Slough in February 2019.
The accident left her leg broken in multiple places, with her shin 'bent in half at 45 degrees'. Mrs Mountain sued Adventure Forest Ltd, trading as Go Ape, claiming the slide was 'too dangerous' and 'not reasonably safe for operation'. However, Judge Luke Ashby dismissed the claim, ruling that injuries are an inherent risk in adventure parks.
The court heard that Mrs Mountain was on a half-term visit with her husband and children when she used the slide as an exit. She described how her trainers caught in the fabric, causing her leg to be dragged underneath her. She was later cut out of the netting and taken to hospital.
Mrs Mountain said she had signed a disclaimer accepting 'bumps and scrapes' but did not expect such a severe injury. Go Ape's lawyers argued that the Nets Kingdom was installed by industry specialists and regularly inspected, and that Mrs Mountain had accepted the risk of injury.
Judge Ashby noted that the slide had been used around 100,000 times with only eight or nine reported incidents. He said adventure parks have social utility and that Go Ape had taken professional advice to ensure reasonable safety. 'It was a nasty injury and a very unpleasant accident, but that is what it was,' he concluded, dismissing the claim.
