A bride who suffered a serious leg injury when she fell down a flight of stairs on her wedding day is suing a stately home for £100,000.
Hellen Hetherington was walking down a stone stairway hand-in-hand with her new husband when he suddenly lost his footing.
She fell too and ended up at the bottom of the steps.
Hellen had to be rushed to hospital in an ambulance and missed her own wedding night.
Her lawyers claim she suffered the injury because the exterior staircase was not lit.
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However, the owner of the stately home denies liability and the events company involved says the fall was a “pure accident”.
Details of the case have emerged after papers were filed at the High Court.
In the claim lawyer Wanda Szcygiel, acting for Hellen, wrote: “She waited for her husband before continuing to walk towards the marquee at the same time as her husband.
“First the claimant’s husband, then the claimant fell almost at the same time. The claimant fell to the left. The claimant’s husband fell to the right.
“The steps were inadequately lit and could not be seen, causing the claimant to fall as she could not make out the beginning of the stairs.”
Hellen’s accident happened in June 2017 during her wedding reception at 114-year-old Sennowe Park - a historic country pile in Norfolk.
The huge Edwardian country house was built in 1907 by Thomas Albert Cook, who was the grandson of travel agency pioneer Thomas Cook.
After enjoying her wedding and reception in the grounds of the stately home she and her husband retired to the bridal suite before midnight.
They were on the way back to the marquee when she fell while descending stone steps connecting two terraces.
Hellen, who works as head of procurement at a farmers’ buying group, initially needed round-the-clock care when she was recovering.
She claims she is still suffering ongoing effects from the injury, which has impacted her ability to drive.
In the court claim she blames both Sennowe Park and booking agent Softley Events for what happened.
However, estate owner Charles Temple-Richards and the events company deny being at fault.
In its defence to the action, Softley Events’ barrister Jamie Clarke argued an account given by Hellen’s husband proved the fall was an accident.
Mr Clarke said: “The claimant’s husband explained in a calm manner that he had been holding the claimant’s hand whilst they were walking down the steps when he suddenly lost his footing and fell forward, adding that it was fortunate that he was very fit and in good shape as he had been able to roll and avoid a serious injury.
“However, when he missed his footing, the claimant’s husband pulled the claimant down with him and she fell to the bottom of the steps.
“Neither the claimant’s husband nor anybody else at the time made any reference to or criticism of illumination of the steps or of any other aspect of the condition of the steps as being a factor or factors in the alleged events.
“The claimant’s husband’s account at the time describes a pure accident that was not attributable to any external factor.”
Barrister Thomas Banks, for Mr Temple-Richards, said the steps were over 100 years old and were a “period feature” of the house.
He said: “The claimant was aware of the steps, having been up and down them several times, and they were clearly visible as the claimant approached them.
“It is specifically denied that the steps were unlit. Suitable lighting was in place.”
The case reached court earlier this month ahead of a full trial of the claim at a later date.
