### Florida Man Sues Disney World Following "Catastrophic" Waterslide Injury

A Florida man is taking legal action against Disney World after experiencing severe injuries on a waterslide at the popular theme park. Eugene Strickland filed a lawsuit in Orange County’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, seeking over $50,000 in damages and accusing Disney of negligence.

The incident occurred on July 31, 2021, at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park. Strickland, who weighed 334 pounds at the time, opted to ride the Downhill Double Dipper waterslide. His lawyers pointed out that the American Society for Testing and Materials advises individuals over 300 pounds to avoid single-rider waterslides, although the specific weight limitations for the Downhill Double Dipper remain unclear.

According to the lawsuit, Strickland was using an inner tube provided by Disney when he suddenly became airborne due to the ride's high speeds and design. This caused the inner tube to dislodge from beneath him, resulting in Strickland hitting the slide's hard plastic surface with considerable force. The impact allegedly led to permanent and catastrophic injuries.

The lawsuit, filed by Morgan & Morgan on Strickland's behalf, claims the inner tube was defective and inadequately maintained. It argues that Disney supplied "deficient/inadequate/ineffective/underinflated inner tubes," despite knowing the risks they posed to riders.

Furthermore, the legal action asserts that Disney was aware of the hazardous conditions and inherent safety risks associated with the ride. Consequently, Strickland has suffered from significant scarring and disfigurement, according to the complaint.