Paralympian banned at WhiteWater World, Gold Coast
- Zamperla
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Paralympian banned at WhiteWater World, Gold Coast
Paralympian banned at WhiteWater World
By Greg Stolz
October 23, 2008 11:00pm
AMPUTEE Steve Simmonds has swum at the Paralympics for Australia and won waterski titles – but he's banned from riding a Gold Coast theme park's waterslide.
Mr Simmonds, who has also walked the Kokoda Track, is angry and upset after being told he could not ride a WhiteWater World slide - or indeed any of the park's rides - with his five-year-old daughter.
"I lost my leg in an accident when I was six and this is the first time in my life that I've felt discriminated against," Mr Simmonds, 34, said.
The NSW holidaymaker was ordered off the rides when he and his family went to the Dreamworld water park on Wednesday.
"They told me I couldn't go on any of the rides because my $12,000 carbon-fibre prosthesis is classed as a metal object," he said. "I could have walked up the steps and taken my leg off but how would I have gotten my leg back to the bottom?
"The thing that annoys me the most is that with my artificial leg, I'm not disabled. It doesn't fall off so it can't hurt anyone."
By Greg Stolz
October 23, 2008 11:00pm
AMPUTEE Steve Simmonds has swum at the Paralympics for Australia and won waterski titles – but he's banned from riding a Gold Coast theme park's waterslide.
Mr Simmonds, who has also walked the Kokoda Track, is angry and upset after being told he could not ride a WhiteWater World slide - or indeed any of the park's rides - with his five-year-old daughter.
"I lost my leg in an accident when I was six and this is the first time in my life that I've felt discriminated against," Mr Simmonds, 34, said.
The NSW holidaymaker was ordered off the rides when he and his family went to the Dreamworld water park on Wednesday.
"They told me I couldn't go on any of the rides because my $12,000 carbon-fibre prosthesis is classed as a metal object," he said. "I could have walked up the steps and taken my leg off but how would I have gotten my leg back to the bottom?
"The thing that annoys me the most is that with my artificial leg, I'm not disabled. It doesn't fall off so it can't hurt anyone."
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I can see the Park Staff's point of view and its all to with safety as always. But I'd be very upset if i was in his position and I had taken my family there for a great day out then the day ruined when being told you can't go on any attractions. Yes, it does kinda sound like Ben's poor incident at Luna Park
what it does come down to is, that the saftey of a person is paramount, so a decision must be made by the operator, as to the ability of the person to be safe on a ride and or other riders, it is up to the operator to care for the safety of all riders.
Still dont know why being blind would be a safety issue.
Still dont know why being blind would be a safety issue.