On the Fourth of July, what should have been a joyful holiday outing quickly turned into a traumatic event when a 5-year-old boy fell nearly 20 feet from a waterslide at Lake Winnepesaukah’s SOAKya Water Park in Rossville, Georgia. Known as Lake Winnie, the amusement and water park was the site of a frightening incident involving the Twist-N-Shout ride — a tube slide described as “intense” and “not suitable for young riders” on the park’s website.
The boy, whose name has not been released, was riding in a double tube with an adult when he was suddenly ejected from the slide. Witnesses described the child “flying out” before crashing to the ground. Some onlookers feared the worst, unsure if the boy had survived the fall. According to Catoosa County officials, the child was “conscious and alert” upon EMS arrival but had visible scrapes and bruises. He was transported to the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga for further evaluation.
Officials from the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire conducted a full inspection of the waterslide and authorized the park to reopen the attraction shortly after the incident. According to the park’s statement, the Twist-N-Shout underwent checks of its structure, signage, and rider tubes. Despite the reopening, the park has not clarified what led to the fall or whether the ride malfunctioned.
The ride has a weight limit of 350 pounds for double tubes and a minimum height requirement of 42 inches, per the park's guidelines. However, there has been no public confirmation of whether these requirements were properly enforced or met in this case.
The situation raises important concerns about the suitability of certain rides for young children — even those accompanied by an adult — and whether park staff are adequately monitoring ride safety. The absence of clear answers about what caused the boy’s fall only adds to the growing list of concerns about safety enforcement at water and amusement parks.
The incident at Lake Winnie is part of a string of recent amusement park accidents that have made headlines both in the United States and abroad. Over the same holiday weekend, fairgoers in Wisconsin were left suspended upside down for hours after a ride malfunctioned. In North Carolina, a roller coaster was shut down after inspectors discovered a critical structural crack. And in Sweden, a roller coaster derailment resulted in one death and multiple injuries.
These events serve as stark reminders of the dangers that can arise when mechanical rides and water attractions are not maintained, monitored, or managed to the highest safety standards. For parents and families, these attractions are expected to provide fun — not fear.
When injuries occur at water parks or amusement parks, legal responsibility often hinges on premises liability law. Operators have a duty to provide a reasonably safe environment for all patrons. This includes proper ride maintenance, enforcing height and weight restrictions, having trained staff present, and promptly responding to accidents.
If a park fails to adhere to these responsibilities and a guest is injured as a result, that park may be held legally liable. In cases involving children, the legal scrutiny is even greater — parks are expected to take heightened precautions to prevent injury to vulnerable guests.
Even if state inspectors find a ride to be “safe” after the fact, victims and their families may still have grounds to pursue civil action if protocols were ignored, warning signs were inadequate, or the incident was preventable.
Incidents like the one at Lake Winnie highlight the urgent need for stronger safety enforcement at water parks. While park statements may emphasize family fun and safety, accidents like this raise serious doubts about whether those claims hold up under pressure.
At Aquatic Attorneys, we are deeply committed to holding negligent amusement and water park operators accountable. Our firm, led by Michael Haggard, Esq., has decades of experience representing victims in drowning cases, slide accidents, and other water-related injuries. We understand the emotional and financial toll these incidents take on families and work tirelessly to pursue justice.
If your loved one has been injured at a water park due to unsafe conditions, lack of supervision, or a ride malfunction, do not wait. Contact Aquatic Attorneys today for a free consultation. We’re here to help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.
