A LEISURE centre's waterslide on which a man suffered serious head injuries had a design flaw which flipped riders over, a court heard yesterday.

David Brackett, 49, was knocked unconscious after banging his head on the slide at Hailsham's council-run Lagoon Leisure Centre in July, 1994.

He is fighting for compensation in a High Court hearing, at which swimming pool consultant John Fowler described how a fault in the design of the popular chute meant riders could be thrown "from side to side" or even turned over.

Charles Pugh, for Mr Brackett, of Punnetts Town, Heathfield, asked Mr Fowler what made the slide dangerous.

Mr Fowler said: "It was the fast entry into a tight bend."

Father-of-one Mr Brackett lost his job as a heavy plant driver following the accident.

He was left with double vision, had his driving licence taken away, and claims his marriage failed as a result of the accident.

He is seeking damages from Wealden District Council and Stuart Leisure Ltd, the Newhaven-based firm which installed the slide.

Both deny all liability.

On the second day of the hearing, Mr Justice Brown was told a new timing device fitted in 1991 allowed riders on the slide to record how quickly they could descend the chute, encouraging people to go faster and faster.

Mr Fowler said: "Why were there so few head injuries before the installation of the timing device? The mere factor of installing a timing device is going to encourage people to go faster."

And the court heard how Stuart Leisure should have taken into account a report into a similar accident at Norwich Aqua Park, just seven months before Mr Brackett's accident at Hailsham.

Mr Fowler said the report had shown that the bends in the chute had resulted in riders being buffeted from side to side and even made to flip over.

The hearing continues.

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