Agony after Disneyland fall
A FAMILY trip to Disneyland Paris ended in agony for a Colwyn Bay man when he fell downstairs.
George Cole spent three days in hospital after he broke three ribs in the fall at the resort’s Sleeping Beauty Palace in February 2011.
He told a court he believed the steps were wet and slippery and that the chain alongside the staircase was inadequate.
Mr Cole, of Sunningdale Avenue, Colwyn Heights, is suing Euro Disney, owners of the resort, and travel agents TUI Retail for negligence. Mr Cole told the hearing at Rhyl County Court that he was on the last day of a four-day holiday with his wife, daughter, and two grandchildren when the accident occurred.
He was holding his eight-year-old granddaughter’s hand as they went down the stone staircase.
“I didn’t think it was wet as I went down until I landed on it,” he said.
“As I lay there I felt my clothes were damp and my hand was wet. I was walking slowly, appropriately for the weather and was wearing walking boots also appropriate for the weather.”
Mr Cole said he was in considerable pain and almost passed out.
“If it had not been for my daughter, who is a nurse, I would have been worse off,” he added.
Euro Disney employee Cyrille Pitard, who attended the scene, said the atmosphere that day was damp but denied that the staircase was slippery.
Clement Cavoret who investigated the incident on behalf of the company said regular inspections of the whole site were carried out in order for them to continue in operation.
The case was adjourned by District Judge John Thomas for counsel for both parties to make their submissions.