A Florida man has filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney World, claiming he suffered catastrophic injuries while riding a waterslide at the resort’s Blizzard Beach Waterpark in 2021. The complaint, filed last Thursday, alleges the ride failed to safely accommodate the rider’s weight, resulting in severe physical and emotional harm.
Eugene Strickland, who weighed 334 pounds at the time, rode the Downhill Double Dipper slide despite the attraction’s posted 300-pound weight limit, according to court documents obtained by TMZ and reported by the New York Post. Strickland asserts that the inner tube on the ride slipped out from beneath him during the descent, causing him to become briefly airborne before landing forcefully on the hard plastic slide surface.
As a result, Strickland claims to have sustained long-lasting injuries, including pain, scarring, disfigurement, and mental anguish. He also states he has lost the capacity to enjoy life and continues to struggle nearly four years after the incident.
Though it remains unclear whether Strickland was aware of the ride’s weight restrictions at the time, the lawsuit argues that Disney failed to provide adequate safety measures or proper warnings. The suit alleges negligence on the part of the theme park, stating that Disney should have either addressed the potential hazard or clearly communicated the risks to guests.
Strickland is seeking more than $50,000 in damages. The case adds to a growing list of complaints involving Disney’s water parks. In a separate incident, a woman from Long Island is suing for $2 million after allegedly sustaining injuries from a powerful wave at Typhoon Lagoon.
As of now, Walt Disney World has not issued a public statement regarding the lawsuit.
