Basildon incident left family facing 'life-sentence of pain'

Euan Southcott’s family were left facing a “life-sentence of pain” after the incident at Festival Wakeboard Park, at Festival Leisure Park, in 2020. 
Tragic - Euan has sadly died aged 44 (Image: Irwin Mitchell)

The experienced wakeboarder suffered a fractured coccyx, pelvic injuries and deep cuts, when he fell on to a ramp which had not been maintained by owners JVP Leisure Ltd. 

His family have since revealed Euan not only suffered serious physical injuries but was also impacted mentally and died aged 44 in January this year.

Last week, JVP Leisure Ltd were fined £27,000 and ordered to pay costs of £25,000 after admitting a violation of the Health and Safety Act. 

Shock - Image of the broken ramp (Image: Irwin Mitchell)

His mum, Rosalind, said: “Euan was very active and full of life. He loved snowboarding, wakeboarding and swimming and was highly respected by his friends and peers.

“He was very active but all that changed on the day he was injured. Euan spent many weeks in hospital. However, that was just the start of it. Once home, he continued to suffer with problems and went from being an independent and outgoing person to one completely reliant on family.

Sad - Euan with his mum Rosalind (Image: Irwin Mitchell)

“Euan threw himself into his rehab and worked tremendously hard on overcoming the immense physical and mental trauma he had sustained.

“However, as time passed and the new reality of his life as a disabled person took hold, Euan found it harder and harder to live with the life he now had.

“Although Euan didn’t physically die in June 2020, his spirit, hope and future was crushed. The incident ruined his and our lives. Euan was one of the good guys and didn’t deserve to have to go through the hurt, pain and suffering he did. His death has left all his loved ones facing a life-sentence of pain.”

Family - Euan with his dad David (Image: Irwin Mitchell)

An investigation by Basildon Council revealed that JVP Leisure Ltd had failed to adequately maintain the polypropylene boards used to make the jump surfaces at the wakeboard park.

Due to this neglect, the board fractured when Southcott landed, resulted in his severe injuries.

Euan was airlifted to hospital, where he underwent life-saving surgery. He spent around eight weeks in hospital during which time he underwent a further nine operations, including reconstructive surgeries to help repair his organs.