British woman reveals how she ‘severed an artery’ in horrifying accident on ‘extreme’ Space Jam water slide with 72ft, 90-degree drop in Bulgaria
- Jade Graves, from Hull, was on holiday with family in Bulgaria when she was hurt
- She came down 72ft Space Jam slide at Aqua Paradise Water Park in Nessebar when she felt and intense pain in her lower pelvic region
- Jade said she suffered a severed an artery which left her legs running with blood
- She was rushed to hospital for surgery and has spent five weeks recovering
A British holidaymaker has told how she severed an artery while riding an ‘extreme’ water slide in Bulgaria.
Jade Graves, 29, a mother from Hull, suffered the horror injury at the Aqua Paradise Water Park in Nessebar after coming down a 72ft, 90-degree drop.
She said she felt an intense pain in her lower pelvic area as she hit the pool at the bottom, then looked down to see blood streaming down her legs.
Jade Graves, 29, a mother from Hull, suffered a severed artery in her leg after coming down a 72ft, 90-degree ‘extreme’ water slide in Bulgaria
Ms Graves had to be rushed to hospital for a blood transfusion and stitches to close the wound, and has spent five weeks recovering back in the UK
Ms Graves had to be rushed to hospital after suffering severe blood loss, where she was given a transfusion and had to spend four days as an inpatient.
She then returned to the UK where she had to take another five weeks off work.
Ms Graves suffered profound arterial bleeding leading to haemorrhagic shock – where cells are deprived of oxygen due to blood loss – and secondary anaemia.
She said: ‘I still can’t believe what happened to me on that slide.
‘I was meant to be having a lovely holiday with my family but the whole experience has been traumatising.
‘As I hit the water, I was in a lot of pain and I lost so much blood that I had to get a transfusion. It was a complete nightmare and I still get deeply upset about it.
‘I am still uncertain as to what happened exactly, because I followed all the rules put to me by the lifeguard.
Ms Graves (left) was on a family holiday with mother Tina Holm (right) when the accident happened on July 25. She is now back in the UK
Pictured is a view of the Aqua Paradise Water Park with the Space Jam slide which Ms Graves was injured on shown bottom left, in green
‘I really hope that the investigations can get to the bottom of it as I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I have.’
Ms Graves says she is now considering legal action against the water park, and has hired injury firm Irwin Mitchell to represent her.
Cheryl Palmer-Hughes and Tejire Akaunu, solicitors who are representing Jade, said in a joint statement: ‘This is a deeply concerning case where a young woman has sustained horrific injuries during what was meant to be a fun and relaxing time.
‘Unfortunately we see a lot of these cases at this particular time of year, and Jade’s life has been completely turned upside down with her suffering mentally as well as physically.
‘We have now begun our investigation into the accident and are determined to get Jade the answers she needs to help her move forward with her life.’
She is now considering legal action against Aqua Paradise Water Park in Nessebar (file image), saying that she followed all instructions given to her by a lifeguard
Ms Graves (second right) is pictured on holiday with mother Tina (far left), partner Simon Barrett and brother Khalem Peacock