Orlando, Fla. — A man from New York wants a Jury to hear what happened to him when he was on vacation this summer at Universal’s Volcano Bay, according to a lawsuit filed in Orange County earlier this month.
The suit claims Universal was negligent by failing to maintain and inspect the Punga Racer water slide, failing to supervise riders and failing to warn visitors about the potential dangers.
Documents show Jame Bowen, 47, of Wappingers Falls, was visiting the water park on July 11 with his wife and their three daughters when the accident happened.
The suit says the 215 pound man challenged his daughters to a race on the Punga Racers which has four lanes to accommodate multiple riders.
Attorneys allege the man followed ride instructions and went down the slide on his stomach headfirst.
At the end of the ride the document states he hit a wall of water which caused his head to snap back “violently” leaving him temporarily paralyzed from a spinal cord injury.
Bowen was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he underwent spinal decompression surgery on July 16.
Documents say he still is unable to drive, do many household chores and can now only walk a short distance.
Attorneys say shortly after the incident, Universal changed the weight limit for the ride to 150 pounds.