Woman's Face Disfigured in Horrific Amusement Park Accident

Ottawa, ONA Canadian woman who's face was severely disfigured as the result of an amusement park accident at a facility near the nation's capitol is suing the operator. Plaintiff Francine Cyr had been riding the Canyon rafting ride at the Calypso amusement park in August 2010 when something went horribly wrong.

As detailed by Canwest News (8/15/12), Cyr had ventured to the popular water park located just east of Ottawa and boarded a water ride characterized by round rubber rafts free-floating along a steep, twisting waterslide. While there are handles on the rafts for patrons to cling to, Cyr found them ineffective and she was not able to hang on.

According to the text of her amusement park lawsuit, the plaintiff "boarded the raft without being given any direction or cautions. While on the ride, the raft began to descend very rapidly and spin out of control. Francine was thrown from her position on the raft and collided with another rider. Both of her hands had been on the proper handles."

This past July two men were sent to hospital following an incident on the same rafting ride. One of the men suffered a serious skull fracture.

For Cyr, her horrific theme park accident left her face "seriously disfigured as a result of the accident," Cyr's statement of claim continues. "She has continuous hospital and orthodontic appointments and must take prescription medication."

Cyr is seeking $1.7 million in damages. The 48-year-old mom suffered bone fracture to the face; bone fracture to the eye socket; displacement of facial nerve; head, face and eye injuries; injuries to teeth and jaw; bruised eyes and cheeks; face swelling and numbness; and depression, according to a recent report in the Ottawa Citizen (8/15/12).

The plaintiff's water park injuries have also fostered chronic low self-esteem due to the impact the accident had on her facial features. "Francine is unable to participate in recreational, social, sexual, household, and athletic activities to the extent to which she participated in such activities prior to the incident.

"In particular, it is expected that Francine will require significant cosmetic surgery in the future." Calypso has reportedly denied any responsibility.

Meantime, amusement park accidents can happen anywhere, anytime—and they don't necessarily have to occur on an amusement park ride. Sometimes, there are amusement park deaths. In September the Tampa Bay Times (9/10/12) reported on the settlement of a lawsuit over the death of a 9 year old boy.

Chase Brubaker was riding his bike on the sidewalk at Walt Disney World with another child, when Brubaker veered off the sidewalk at the Fort Wilderness Resort into the path of a Walt Disney World bus. The child was run over, and did not survive.

The Brubaker family launched an amusement park lawsuit against the operator of the famous theme park, claiming Disney was at fault. The two parties settled in September. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed.