Mum of Instagram star Karina Irby sues Woolworths after she almost died from infected paper cut

How my mum nearly DIED from a paper cut: Instagram star reveals her mother had to have open heart surgery after a freak accident unpacking boxes at Woolworths – as she launches lawsuit against the supermarket

• The mother of Gold Coast Instagram model Karina Irby is suing Woolworths
• Kim Maree Irby, 51, is suing the grocery giant and The Vege Chip Company
• Ms Irby cut her hand while opening a box for the store’s promotional chip display
• The cut caused a staph infection that led to two rounds of open heart surgery
•  Ms Irby’s lawyer said the claim could be for between $150,000 and $750,000

By Alana Mazzoni For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 12:32 BST, 18 April 2020 | Updated: 15:08 BST, 18 April 2020

The mother of an Instagram model is suing Woolworths and The Vege Chip Company after almost dying from a paper cut obtained while unpacking boxes of chips at her supermarket job. 

Kim Maree Irby, who is the mother of Gold Coast Instagram model Karina Irby, got a staph infection that led to two rounds of open-heart surgery.

Ms Irby used her finger to open the serrated top of boxes to build an in-store promotional display at Woolworths stores in Helensvale, Pimpama and Ormeau in Queensland in April 2017.

The 51-year-old said she felt pain and swelling after cutting her hand while unpacking the boxes, before her entire body started aching.

The Woolworths employee claims the hospital sent her home after undergoing tests for a suspected kidney infection.

Kim Maree Irby, mother of Gold Coast Instagram model Karina Irby (left), is suing Woolworths after she almost died from a paper cut obtained while unpacking boxes of chips at her supermarket job

Kim Maree Irby is the mother of Gold Coast Instagram model and bikini designer Karina Irby 

Ms Irby then started taking antibiotics, but collapsed says later and was rushed back to hospital.

Doctors said she had a Staphylococcus infection, which had spread through her lungs, spine, behind her left eye and in her heart valves, the Courier Mail reported.

Court documents state Ms Irby thought she could die before having open heart surgery to repair her damaged valves. 

The mother was forced to wait a month for a mitral valve replacement because her private cover didn’t cover the costs. 

In May that year she had replacement surgery then had further surgery in October 2018.

Ms Irby was authorised to sue the Queensland-based chip company and Woolworths for damages caused by the cuts. 

Doctors said Ms Irby (left) she had a Staphylococcus infection, which had spread through her lungs, spine, behind her left eye and in her heart valves 

Ms Irby’s (left) lawyer said the claim could be for between $150,000 and $750,000

‘The boxes…you don’t need a knife to open, they have a hole in the side around the size of a 10c piece, you put finger in, run finger around, the box opens and then put the contents on shelves,’ she said according to a workers compensation application.

Court documents stated the boxes were allegedly dirty and dusty from being in storage.  

District Court Judge Paul Sheridan earlier this month ordered Ms Irby be allowed to launch a claim for damages for negligence in a separate District Court case. 

Ms Irby’s lawyer said the claim could be for between $150,000 and $750,000. 

The claim against Woolworths will allege a failure to have a process in place to ensure boxes are clean and free from the risk of infection.

The claim against Currumbin-based The Vege Chip Company – which specialises in gluten free snacks – will allege Ms Irby wasn’t warned of the risk of infection from display boxes.

Karina regularly posts racy photos modelling her popular skimpy swimwear brand Moana Bikini.

She prides herself on promoting body positivity, and often shares her workouts to her 1.1million Instagram followers.

The 29-year-old took to social media before Ms Irby’s May 2017 surgery to share a photo of her mother in hospital.

‘She’s had little time to mentally prepare and she had no idea that something so small and insignificant could affect her and her family in such a big way,’ Karina wrote at the time. 

‘The pace at which life can change is staggering, but the way mum is facing her challenges head on is inspiring to say the least. We’re with you every step of the way Mumma, we love you!’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted The Vege Chip Company and Woolworths.  

Karina Irby, 29, prides herself on promoting body positivity, and often shares her workouts to her 1.1million Instagram followers

 

 

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