A man is suing a health authority in southwestern Manitoba after being hurt in a bizarre incident inside the Brandon Regional Health Centre in July 2011.
Rodney McKnight was in a wheelchair when another man jumped from a fourth-floor balcony and landed on him. The man who jumped later died.
McKnight filed papers for a lawsuit Dec. 17 against Prairie Mountain Health, previously called Western Regional Health Authority.
He said the health authority should have foreseen the danger, since the incident wasn’t the first of its kind.
Just seven months earlier, a woman fell to her death from the same area. No one else was injured in that incident.
In both cases, no foul play was suspected.
McKnight claims the hospital failed to monitor balconies and didn’t have proper safeguards in place.
In the lawsuit, he says he suffered mental trauma and physical injuries, including a fractured tibia and significant upper body pain.
At the time of the first fall, officials called it an isolated incident.
After the second incident, Plexiglas barriers were installed.
The health authority said it’s taking the situation seriously, but wouldn’t comment further as the issue is before the courts.
McKnight is suing for unspecified damages. The lawsuit says he incurred costs, including for wheelchair repairs and lost wages because he couldn’t work.
