THE parents of a 16-year-old boy who broke his leg at a North Albury business say they are frustrated by the company’s lack of concern about the injury.
Blayde Kendrick was using the trampolines at the Flip Out centre in Nowra Street last Tuesday when he broke his leg.
His father Mark said his leg had been broken in four places when he landed on the trampoline mat, and believes the injuries will be long-lasting.
Blayde has already undergone surgery and will require further operations.
“He’s one of the best young skateboarders going around.
“He won’t skateboard again.
“There are a lot of things that he won’t do again.”
Blayde’s mother Christine Warren said the injury occurred when he landed, and said the mats were “way too tight”.
She is concerned by how the staff had responded to the injury and said she had been called to pick him up and take him to the hospital instead of an ambulance being called.
“The kids are coming down and bouncing and doing their ankles,” Ms Warren said.
“He went down there with a group of friends and apparently you have to sign a waiver.
“There was only one girl in the group who was 18 and she signed them all in.”
Blayde’s parents have tried to contact the owner but have not received a response.
A company spokesman said each site had had a safety audit and risk assessment, and had strategies to deal with injuries.
“Our injuries are significantly less than what happens each weekend in football or soccer,” he said.
“We compile injury statistics and our staff are generally trained in first aid.
“Broken bones aren’t a common injury.
“Sprained ankles and wrists are, but it’s very rare that we get a break.”
The spokesman said a legal guardian aged 18 or over was needed to sign in children.
“If an ambulance wasn’t called, that would have been at the request of patrons,” he said.
“Hard objects in our centres are covered in padding and the distances from the walls are all built to Australian safety standards.”
