A primary school teacher is taking legal action against the outdoor adventure firm Go Ape, seeking £60,000 in damages after suffering a horrific leg break on a slide within a playground zone marketed for children.
A 'Severe' Fracture on the 'Big Bounce' Slide
Rosemary Mountain, a 50-year-old teacher, sustained what has been described as a 'severe' fracture in February 2019. The incident occurred at the Go Ape adventure site in Black Park, near Slough, as she descended a 10 to 12-metre long 'Big Bounce' netted fabric tube slide.
Mrs Mountain, who teaches year one and two pupils, was on a half-term visit with her husband and young children. The court heard that as her family prepared to leave the Nets Kingdom area, they used the slide as a convenient exit. "I went down with my legs together," she told Central London County Court Judge Luke Ashby. "It was very fast and the first part is just a freefall."
Her trainer became caught in the netting, causing her leg to snap. "My foot and leg were dragged underneath me as I fell," she recounted. "I could see that half of my shin was bent at about 45 degrees." The injury left her leg broken in three places, 'floppy' and bent backwards. She had to be cut free from the netting at the slide's base before being rushed to hospital.
Legal Battle Over Safety and Responsibility
Mrs Mountain is suing Adventure Forest Ltd, which trades as Go Ape, claiming the slide was 'too dangerous' and 'not reasonably safe for operation.' Her barrister, Jonathan Payne, argued that an injury of such severity should not occur on safe equipment. He pointed to a history of incident reports featuring 'trapping and twisting lower limbs,' suggesting the risk was foreseeable.
He further contended that Go Ape had failed to conduct a specific risk assessment for the section where the injury happened and that the slide's later replacement with a rigid model indicated a known problem.
However, Go Ape is denying all liability. The company's barrister, David White, emphasised that Mrs Mountain had signed a comprehensive disclaimer acknowledging the risk of injury before entering the course. He described the event as an "extremely unfortunate accident" but maintained the Nets Kingdom was installed by specialists and regularly inspected.
Dave Daborn, Go Ape co-owner and then-site manager, confirmed the area was aimed at children, with a target market of under-12s, though adults were welcome. The company insists its engineers performed adequate risk assessments and that the slide was not inherently hazardous.
Life-Changing Aftermath and Ongoing Case
The consequences of the accident have been profound for Mrs Mountain. Previously an "outdoorsy adventurous person," she underwent extensive surgery and continues to suffer from chronic pain. She told the court she is unlikely to ever return to running or her former active lifestyle.
In her testimony, she challenged the notion that the disclaimer covered such a severe injury: "We signed to say there's a risk of bumps and scrapes, but not this sort of injury... It says on the description that it's suitable for three-year-olds, so I didn't expect to break my leg."
The hearing at Central London County Court continues as both sides present their evidence. The outcome will hinge on whether the slide was unreasonably dangerous or if the signed disclaimer and inherent risk of the activity absolve Go Ape of blame for this specific, catastrophic injury.
