Fan makes organisers feel the heat

Melbourne, Jan. 24: A tennis fan, who claims she suffered serious injuries after fainting from the heat at an Australian Open tennis match in 2013, is suing the organisers for negligence.

Susan Carman, 57, claims she suffered serious injuries after collapsing due to scorching heat during an Andy Murray match at Hisense Arena two years ago in Melbourne.

The woman, who hails from Traralgon, Victoria, said there was not enough cover as players and the crowd endured a 40degree day on January 17, 2013, according to a report in the Herald Sun.

She alleges she fell down some stairs in the grandstand whens they were looking for some shade, suffering a fractured ankle and shin, ligament damage, and scarring.

She claims the organisers were negligent by failing to shut the retractable roof. The claim does not specify a figure of money, but it claims damages to lost income and to compensate for the family who looked after her during her recovery.

A five-day County Court trial is scheduled for February 2016.

A heatwave had plagued the event, with ball boys, players and spectators all collapsing under the heat.

The heat, which passed 40 degrees on some days, even caused tram tracks to buckle, forcing spectators to walk under the scorching sunlight.

— Agencies