Holiday turns to horror as 20kg toolbox ‘drops on passenger’s head’ as he relaxed on a deck chair on board luxury cruise liner
- Queensland couple suing a luxury cruise liner for alleged failure of duty to care
- Sallyanne and Louis Bignoux were aboard the Legend of the Seas in 2018
- Near end of the trip Mr Bignoux had 20kg tool box drop onto his head and chest
A Queensland couple is suing a luxury cruise line amid claims a tool box weighing 20kg fell onto the husband’s head head and chest as he relaxed on a deck chair.
Sallyanne and Louis Bignoux were aboard the Royal Caribbean’s ‘Legend of the Seas’ in 2018 to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary when their dream holiday turned into a nightmare.
It was during the final stretch of the round trip to New Caledonia, on board their favourite cruise ship, when the trip came undone, Mrs Bignoux told news.com.au.
Queensland couple Sallyanne and Louis Bignoux (pictured) are suing a luxury cruise line after the husband had a tool box weighing 20kg fall onto his head and chest as he sat back and relaxed on the ship
The couple were aboard the Royal Caribbean’s ‘Legend of the Seas’ (pictured) in 2018 to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary when the incident occurred
As Mrs Bignoux stood on the deck having a cigarette, her husband had taken up a position on a pool chair to relax.
Overhead was a crew member who had climbed a ladder with a toolbox weighing at least 20kg to perform maintenance, the couple claim.
They say the crew member lost control of the toolbox and it came crashing down onto Mr Bignoux’s head and chest.
‘After he (crew member) started climbing, the next thing I heard was Louis screaming in pain and holding his head and his chest. He didn’t look like he was with it all,’ she told the publication.
The tool box was full of heavy hammers, spanners and a variety of other heavy tools needed for ship maintenance.
Mrs Bignoux said the crew member was left shocked by the accident and kept shouting ‘oh my god’ ad they climbed down the ladder.
As the ship sat in the sea port at Noumea (pictured) the couple decided to stay on board and relax which is when the tool box fell down and smashed into Mr Bignoux’s head and chest
A number of other tourists and crew members rushed to Mrs Bignoux’s aid before he was taken to the ship’s sick bay.
Mr Bignoux was left with heavy bruising on his head and chest and had started getting intense headaches in the aftermath.
In the months following the incident Mr Bignoux has developed post traumatic stress disorder from the incident which he said also caused social anxiety and depression.
Crew members were extremely attentive to Mr Bignoux for the remainder of the trip which Mrs Bignoux did commend, however the couple will still be launching legal action.
‘Every other cruise ship would have roped off an area for maintenance, if someone is painting or tightening a bolt, there’s always an area roped off. But the man going up the ladder would’ve seen Louis on the deckchair, but at no time was he asked to move,’ Ms Bignoux said.
She said the incident could have ended much worse if the passenger who was hit was an elderly or frail person instead.
The couple employed Shine Lawyers who commenced legal proceedings in August 2018 and allege the Royal Caribbean had failed in its duty of care to passengers.
A Royal Caribbean spokesman wouldn’t comment on pending legal action but said they ‘operate all our ships safely, professionally and responsibly.’
Daily Mail Australia has approached Royal Caribbean for further comment.
Crew members were extremely attentive to Mr Bignoux for the remainder of the trip which Mrs Bignoux did commend, however the couple will still be launching legal action