Outback Splash accident leaves child with reported skull fracture

Part of the Outback Splash! children's aquatic playground at The Maze Family Fun Park in Perth has been closed after a weekend incident in which a young boy suffered serious head injuries after falling from a waterslide.

According to a report in The West Australian, Outback Splash!'s management has closed the popular 'blue waterslide' while undertaking an "operational review", with WorkSafe WA also understood to be investigating the incident.

The five-year-old boy reportedly suffered serious head injuries when he fell from the slide and landed on a "concrete" surface beneath the slide. The boy remains hospitalised with an apparent skull fracture.

In a statement released on Wednesday (3rd December) management of the park confirmed that "an incident occurred involving a five-year-old boy and his father riding one of the slides at the Outback Splash waterslide playground."

The statement explained "WorkSafe have been notified and a review will be conducted into the incident.

"The slide related to the incident will be closed until further notice.

"The safety of guests is a paramount focus of Outback Splash at the Maze Family Fun Park."

The boy's mother reported on the incident, which occurred on Sunday (30th November) on the Outback Splash Facebook page, writing "our son ... is slowly improving and has been to hell and back as have we his family.

"He is alive only as a result of the multiple medical trauma teams who treated him at two major hospitals in Perth. He has fractures to his skull and other injuries as a result of his fall from height onto concrete.

"We are unsure of how his memory, speech, seizures etc etc will develop over the next few months.

"We have many specialist medical depts working with him."

The Indian-manufactured Outback Splash! playground has been a popular part of The Maze since it was opened in December last year. The aquatic playground feature is part of a planned $70 million waterpark that will be developed at The Maze in six stages over a 10 year period.

8th April 2014 - THE MAZE TO EXTEND OUTBACK SPLASH! SEASON UNTIL JUNE 

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10th December 2013 - PERTH ATTRACTION TO OPEN NEW CHILDREN’S AQUATIC PLAYGROUND ON 21ST DECEMBER