Tourist wins compensation after watersport accident

Tube boat operator fined Dh20,000, ordered to compensate seriously injured British woman

Legal and Court Correspondent

Aboat operator will pay Dh21,000 in compensation to a British tourist for injuring her ear and eye in a tube boat accident.

The British woman, who suffered 30 per cent permanent disability in her head and face following the accident in June 2017 off the Jumeirah beachfront, sued the 31-year-old Sri Lankan boat operator, who works for a hotel at Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.

The British claimant lodged a civil lawsuit for Dh21,000 in temporary compensation against the physical and emotional damages that she suffered following the accident.

Medical reports said the Briton sustained comminuted depressed fractures of her left temporal bones with inferior extension to the base of the skull, among other injuries.

On Thursday, the Dubai Misdemeanours Court fined the Sri Lankan defendant Dh20,000 for negligently and accidentally causing the victim’s injuries.

According to the primary judgement, the accused was also ordered to pay Dh21,000 in temporary compensation to the Briton.

The claimant is expected to transfer her civil lawsuit to the Dubai Civil Court where she will be seeking higher and permanent compensation against her damages.

The Briton was also referred to an ENT team for left ear discharge. Hearing assessment showed moderate to severe left ear conductive deafness.

The tourist was staying at the luxury hotel from where she hired a tube ride along with her Qatari friend when the boat operator sailed towards the Mina Seyahi lagoon for the 20-minute ride.

In line with safety regulations, the Briton and her friend

The Briton’s lawyer said she suffered multiple fractures of the facial bones and particularly around her left eye in addition to other fractures.

were provided with safety helmets and life jackets following a safety briefing.

Records said a private boat passed nearly 30-metres away and caused abnormally high waves on one side of the tube, which was sailing at 20 knots, forcing the defendant to turn left to avoid the waves.

Once the accused swerved the boat to the left, a one-meter high wave hit the tube and caused the two friends to bump head-to-head.

The collision caused bleeding in the woman’s left ear. The boat operator instantly called paramedics and the police as soon as he reached the shore.

The court convicted the operator of failing to adhere to safety standards and negligently causing the tube ride accident, subsequently injuring the Qatari man on the head and causing a 30 per cent permanent disability to British woman. The Sri Lankan pleaded not guilty.

In her civil lawsuit, the Briton’s lawyer said she suffered multiple fractures in the facial bones and particularly around her left eye in addition to fractures in the left ear’s bones, which led to partial deafness.

The ruling remains subject to appeal.