Fall at water park leaves teen spending 15th birthday in Ohio hospital, family says
A high schooler spent her 15th birthday in the hospital after suffering a spinal injury in a fall at an Ohio water park, family said.
Olivia Kozuszek fell 20 to 25 feet off an inflatable into water Wednesday, June 21, at Land of Illusion Aqua Adventure Park in Middletown, according to the Journal-News.
The water park, which features a 65-piece inflatable obstacle course, is about 45 miles north of Cincinnati.
Jordan Peters, the Madison Township Fire Department assistant chief, said Olivia had a “a pretty decent fall,” according to the Journal-News.
Olivia felt “pain and tingling in her body” after the incident, according to WLWT. She suffered a spinal injury, but loved ones did not specify the extent of the injury.
She went into surgery Tuesday, June 27, on her 15th birthday, according to a GoFundMe. Doctors said the surgery went well.
“She will be receiving more scans tomorrow to make sure everything is in place,” a GoFundMe update said. “We expect a full recovery.”
Olivia is a student at Valley View High School in Germantown, where she is a member of her school’s softball and cheerleading teams, according to the GoFundMe.
In a statement to WLWT, the water park said its “care and concern” are with Olivia and her family.
“As a park deeply committed to guest safety, we adhere to stringent standards and regulations set by the State of Ohio authorities,” the park said. “Safety is our utmost priority, and we strive to create a safe and wholesome family experience for those looking to add more outdoor activities for family fun.”
In 2021, a 14-year-old girl died at the same water park when she went under water for 30 minutes, McClatchy News reported.
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