Woman Suffered Brain Damage On Disney Waterslide, Lawsuit Claims

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL — A woman is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts after she was injured and suffered brain damage on a ride at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, according to multiple reports citing court documents.

Laura Reyes-Merino is seeking more than $50,000 in damages after she was injured on the Humunga Kowabunga slide on May 11, WFLA reported. Reyes-Merino lost consciousness after “banging” inside the waterslide tube, according to the complaint.

The woman's fiancé and his mother found Reyes-Merino's limp body at the end of the ride and asked nearby attendants to help; however, the attendants said they were not lifeguards and would have to find lifeguards to help, court documents obtained by WESH said.

According to court documents, Reyes-Merino was drowning and coughing up blood before her fiancé pulled her from the water, reports said.

"Had (Disney) had lifeguards at the end of the ride to watch and help guests coming off the ride, (Reyes-Merino's) brain injury would not have occurred as she wouldn’t have been drowning in the water coughing up blood," the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit accuses Disney of negligence and failing to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition, reports said.

Last year, a woman filed a separate lawsuit against Disney, claiming she suffered an "injurious wedgie" while riding on the same waterslide.

According to court documents, Emma McGuinness was riding the 214-foot slide when her body lifted and she became airborne, causing her ankles to uncross, a position riders are instructed to assume when on the slide. Her body then slammed back into the slide, the complaint said.

"The impact of The Slide and impact into the standing water at the bottom of The Slide caused Ms. McGuinness' clothing to be painfully forced between her legs and for water to be violently forced inside her," the complaint stated. "She experienced immediate and severe pain internally and, as she stood up, blood began rushing from between her legs."