Jerome, a Brisbane father, sustained a serious foot injury at a Queensland indoor play centre, believing faulty equipment was to blame. After the incident, he expected the facility, Area 51, to cover his medical expenses. However, the centre pointed out that Jerome signed a liability waiver upon entry, which they argue places responsibility for injuries on the customer. Jerome expressed his frustration, noting the waiver highlighted potential risks, effectively stating, “you could die, and it’s not our fault.”
The injury occurred when Jerome’s foot got trapped on a vertical ramp, leading to a fracture that required paramedics to straighten his foot in the car park before he underwent surgery. His injury necessitated medical interventions, including pins and a rubber band to stabilise his ankle. He maintains that inadequate safety conditions contributed significantly to his accident, referencing hazardous equipment that should have been closed to the public.
Jerome likened his experience to entering a gym with faulty equipment, stating, “You don’t sign up to a gym to then enter the gym and have faulty equipment.” He argues that the play centre failed to ensure a safe environment, advocating that proper inspections could have identified unsafe conditions.
Jerome has since lost his job as a forklift driver due to the injury, which has limited his physical abilities and recreational activities he once enjoyed. Shine Lawyers, representing Jerome, asserts that the waiver does not absolve Area 51 from its duty to provide a safe environment. Roberto Chata, an associate at the firm, emphasised that such waivers should not act as “get-out-of-jail cards” and that the play centre is obliged to ensure its services are safe, suggesting they failed to adequately maintain their equipment.
In response to the situation, Area 51 has chosen not to comment publicly, citing the ongoing legal proceedings related to Jerome’s claim. The case raises broader questions about liability and safety standards within recreational facilities, underscoring the significant impacts such injuries can have on individuals’ livelihoods and quality of life.