Legoland pirate suing for £200k after stunt incident

A LEGOLAND pirate is battling for £200,000 in compensation after he fell off a swing and broke his back during a live show.

 

29-year old Brendan Pollitt was fronting a three-man team for Legoland Windsor's "Pirates of Skeleton Bay" show in July 2017. As the "flier" he was meant to dive into a pool of water below once the "Russian swing" had picked up enough momentum.  Instead, he came backwards off the trapeze during the act, fell 30ft, and landed on wooden decking, breaking his back and rupturing his major organs. Mr Pollitt, of Rayleigh, Essex, is now suing show operators SGA Productions, which was contracted by Legoland to put on the pirate show.

 

The stuntman's lawyers say his accident was the fault of the show's operators, and the company is not disputing negligence. Mr Pollitt's barrister, Richard Wilkinson, explained: "The intention was that the swing would be manoeuvred so that Mr Pollitt would be projected upwards and forwards by the swing enabling him to jump or dive into a pool located beneath. "However, on the occasion of his accident, the swing was pushed too high which caused the claimant to be projected backwards, rather than forwards. "In consequence, Mr Pollitt landed on the decking that surrounded the pool, rather than in the water, having fallen from a height of around eight to 10m [26 to 32ft]. He landed on his chest." 

 

Mr Pollitt says he was knocked out cold in the fall and suffered "serious and life-threatening injuries" – including smashed ribs, a collapsed lung, a torn liver, broken chest bone and a fractured spine. According to court papers, the former professional free runner also needed open-heart surgery to repair a damaged valve. 

 

Lawyers for SGA Productions say that Mr Pollitt must prove what, if any, injuries he suffered and how they have affected his life before any pay-out can be agreed.

Mr Wilkinson said that before his fall, Mr Pollitt was "extremely fit and enjoyed a range of very physical activities", but now he has to deal with chronic pain and has had to stop doing many of his favourite pastimes. 

 

A trial date is yet to be fixed for the claim for damages.

 

E&K Solicitors

Rusholme