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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Lucy Clarke-Billings

Brit injured neck on Benidorm water park slide month before man left paralysed

A British tourist suffered a painful neck injury on a water park slide just one month before a 23-year-old holidaymaker was left paralysed.

Ryan Ball, 37, cut his neck after entering the pool at the bottom of Splash at Aqualandia in Benidorm, Costa Blanca, Spain.

He told the Olive Press newspaper that lifeguards "did not correct his position" before he hurtled down the slide on June 2.

It comes as David Briffaut, 23, broke two vertebrae in a freak accident as he slid head-first down the ride on July 8.

His family have called for a full investigation into the park's health and safety measures but an Aqualandia spokesman said it was "not responsible" for the tragic incident.

"It’s a really dangerous slide," Mr Ball, from Nottinghamshire, said.

"You go so fast you forget how to ride, unless someone tells you.

"When I hit the water my body flew forwards.

"I suffered minor whiplash, but I was one of the lucky ones."

Ryan Ball, 37, cut his neck after entering the pool at the bottom of Splash (theolivepress)

A water park spokesperson said there was "no record" of Mr Ball's injuries but he maintains he was treated at the park and asked to sign a form.

More than £75,000 has been raised to cover Mr Briffaut's medical bills since July 8, with comedian Jason Manford rallying behind the campaign.

The 23-year-old, from Benfleet, Essex, snapped two vertebrae in his spinal cord when he slammed into the water.

The Brit has been taken off a life support machine and is now back to the UK where he will begin his rehabilitation journey.

David's uncle Mark Pooley told The Sun: "David is back in the UK, having been transferred by air ambulance to a British hospital today.

"He is no longer under sedation and we are encouraged by the fact that he has been able to communicate with members of the family."

Medical staff still fear he could be permanently paralysed from the chest down and will require life-long care.

He was in Spain on holiday with his girlfriend Penny when the incident happened.

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