A primary school teacher is pursuing a £60,000 personal injury claim against adventure company Go Ape, alleging she suffered a catastrophic leg break on a net slide marketed for children as young as three.
A Family Day Out Ends in Severe Injury
Rosemary Mountain, a 50-year-old teacher, was visiting the Go Ape site at Black Park near Slough with her family during the February 2019 half-term break. The incident occurred as she used a 10 to 12-metre long 'Big Bounce' netted fabric tube slide to exit the Nets Kingdom area, an attraction designed for children aged three to twelve.
In testimony at Central London County Court, Mrs Mountain described how her trainer became snagged in the slide's material. "My foot just got snagged in some sort of material at the side of the slide and dragged behind me," she told Judge Luke Ashby. "I came to a rest and it was twisted right round." The force of the fall caused a severe fracture, leaving her leg 'floppy' and bent at a 45-degree angle.
Conflicting Claims Over Safety and Responsibility
Mrs Mountain's legal team, led by barrister Jonathan Payne, argues the slide was "too dangerous" and "not reasonably safe for operation." They contend accident reports for the slide showed a pattern of lower limb entrapment, making her severe injury foreseeable. They also allege Go Ape failed to conduct a specific risk assessment for the section where the accident happened.
However, Go Ape, operated by Adventure Forest Ltd, denies all liability. The company's barrister, David White, stated the Nets Kingdom was "installed by industry specialists" and subject to regular inspections. He emphasised that Mrs Mountain signed a disclaimer acknowledging the risk of injury before entering. Mr White described the event as "an extremely unfortunate accident" and argued her claim that the slide was inherently too dangerous is "not reasonably sustainable."
Lasting Impact and Legal Arguments
The consequences for Mrs Mountain were profound. Once an "outdoorsy adventurous person," she required extensive surgery and now lives with chronic pain, unlikely to return to running or her former active lifestyle. Following the accident, she had to be cut free from the netting at the slide's base.
In court, she challenged the scope of the disclaimer she signed. "We signed to say there's a risk of bumps and scrapes, but not this sort of injury," she stated. "It says on the description that it's suitable for three-year-olds, so I didn't expect to break my leg."
Go Ape's co-owner and then-site manager, Dave Daborn, confirmed the area was aimed at children, though adults were welcome. Notably, the net slide was later removed and replaced with a rigid model. The court continues to examine whether the design presented an unacceptable risk and if the company took adequate steps to prevent such a serious injury.
