Turtle Tide Waterslides is under scrutiny after three students from Selkirk were injured going down one of the slides.
The Bullet waterslide is a thrilling favourite at the waterpark near Grand Beach. It promises speeds of up to 75 kilometres an hour.
The ride didn't phase 11-year old Sadie Harms. On June 23, Harms went down the slide, and by the time she got to the bottom, she was hurt.
"My leg, I was scared to move it, because it was bleeding so much. I didn't know what to do," Harms said.
The student ended up with a painful and deep cut above her knee, and she was not the only one hurt that day.
Lord Selkirk School Division said three students got cut at the park during the trip.
Harms and supervisors on the trip believe a piece of loosened fiberglass on the slide caused the injuries. She was given first aid and park staff shut down the slide, but the incident is not sitting well with Harms' mother, Amy Walker.
"I was completely disgusted,” Walker said. “I was like wow, a waterslide where all these little kids are going down them. This shouldn't be happening.”
To take a trip on the bullet sliders must travel one person at a time, use a mat, lie on their stomach and remove goggles and sunglasses, all steps Sadie Harms insisted she took on the ride.
Statement from Turtle Tide Waterslides:
Turtle Tide Waterslides tells CTV News it has never had anything like this happen before.
In a statement one of the owners said, “the waterslide has been fixed and safety is our first priority”.
The province explained if there is a complaint about a waterslide structure, an inspector will investigate and could make recommendations to the operator to deal with this issue.
Harms and her mother said they feel a little better hearing the park made repairs, but are staying away from waterslides.
"Angry and kinda upset that it happened," said Harms, who was looking forward to celebrating her 12th birthday at the park.
“No parent or child should have to go through what I went through. That could have been a lot more severe than it was,” Walker said.
Scott Kwasnitza, Lord Selkirk School Division superintendent said the division will look at this and follow up with the park and with school staff.
If the safety concerns are addressed, Kwasnitza said there is no reason students can't continue going there.
Waterslide rules in Manitoba:
The province does not have specific rules for water slides in Manitoba other than water quality.
If the province receives a complaint, public health inspectors will in investigate and make recommendations.
In this case, Manitoba Health said it is not aware of a complaint from June 23 about this park.
