Court Sentences Water Sports Facility Operators After Teen's Tragic Accident
In a recent ruling, the Chuncheon District Court sentenced the operators of a water sports facility to suspended prison terms following a tragic incident where a teenager fell into a coma after hitting his head while using a water slide. On January 19, the court announced that A (68), the facility operator, received a one-year prison sentence with a two-year suspension, while B (45), the safety manager, was sentenced to eight months in prison, also suspended for two years.
The incident occurred in September 2022 at a water sports facility operated by A. During the event, C (19) was using an 8-meter high water slide when he fell and struck his head on the ground, resulting in a coma. Reports indicate that C was lying face down while sliding, which contributed to the severity of the accident.
Investigations revealed that there were no posted safety guidelines or warnings at the facility at the time of the accident. Furthermore, B, the safety manager, was found to be negligent in his duties, as he was overseeing safety from a location far from the landing pool.
During the trial, A and B claimed they had repeatedly warned the victim against dangerous behavior, asserting that the accident was caused by the victim's unexpected actions. However, the court rejected this defense, citing inadequate safety measures and a lack of guidance regarding proper sliding positions.
Judge Park Seong-min noted that while the victim's family had not reached a settlement and the damages were not fully addressed, the victim's own actions also played a significant role in the incident, which was taken into account during sentencing.
