Malta Water Park Under Fire: Tourist Claims ‘Shattered Feet’ on Slide
Imagine the shock and pain as a woman, holidaying in Malta, found herself at the bottom of a water slide, not with a thrilling splash, but with two shattered feet. This is the alarming claim that has sparked a firestorm around Bugibba’s popular water park, Funnyland.
From Thrill to Agony in Seconds
Lisa Johnson, a 35-year-old marketing manager from Manchester, had been looking forward to her Maltese holiday for months. But her dream vacation turned into a nightmare when she slid down the park’s ‘Black Hole’ slide on Tuesday afternoon. “I hit the bottom with such force, I felt like I’d broken every bone in my feet,” she recounts, her voice still trembling with shock.
Park Management Responds
Funnyland management has been quick to respond, expressing concern and offering full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. “We take such incidents very seriously,” says spokesperson Maria Azzopardi. “The safety of our guests is our top priority. We’re working closely with the authorities to understand what went wrong.”
The water park, a staple of Malta’s tourism scene since 1994, has been under scrutiny before. In 2015, a similar incident led to a young boy suffering severe leg injuries. Following that incident, Funnyland underwent extensive safety checks and upgrades.
Local Authorities Weigh In
Malta’s Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) has launched an investigation. “We’re looking into the slide’s maintenance history, as well as any potential design flaws,” says OHSA spokesperson, Dr. Joseph Zammit. “We’ll also be inspecting other slides at the park to ensure they meet safety standards.”
Meanwhile, the local council has been flooded with calls from concerned residents and tourists. “We’re urging everyone to exercise caution when using water slides,” says councilor for tourism, Rosette Portelli. “While we love our water parks, safety must always come first.”
Lisa Johnson, now back in the UK, is facing months of recovery. “I just want answers,” she says. “I want to know why this happened, and how we can prevent it from happening again.”
