Wolverhampton Grammar School student breaks back in visit to Air Space trampoline centre
An 18-year-old student broke his back in a visit to newly opened trampoline park Air Space Wolverhampton, it has emerged.
The Wolverhampton Grammar School pupil had been on a 'tumble track' at the facility when the incident took place, which bosses described as a long trampoline allowing users to perform several somersaults in a row.
Tristram Mayhew, who founded parent company Go Ape, said he has viewed video footage showing the teenager performing "a couple of bounces" before attempting a backwards somersault. But he lands on his shoulders and his legs flick over his head, Mr Mayhew said.
The student, whose name is not known, then stood up and approached a member of staff stating he had pain in his legs.
He was taken into the facility's first aid room before being taken to hospital in an ambulance. Medical staff later discovered he had broken a bone in his lower back.
Speaking to the Express & Star, Mr Mayhew said the manager at the Bentley Bridge site had been in contact with the student's family several times since the incident, which took place in the first few days of the year.
He added: "I have spoken with him and he is at home on rest. They are not going to operate but he will be wearing a back brace for a while.
"Unfortunately for him he was in a very, very, very small number of people who suffer an injury through the normal use of the trampolines."
Air Space Wolverhampton welcomed its first visitors on December 23, creating 90 jobs.
The £1.5 million park, which is set over two floors, boasts more than over 100 interconnected trampolines. It also has a number of areas for a range of activities, including a performance area and wall, air bag, basketball hoops and football goals as well as dodgeball courts.
Mr Mayhew said Air Space takes safety very seriously and when visitors arrive they have to go through an instruction brief.
He added: "The main message we give everyone is to jump within their own ability and not to do anything beyond that.
"At every single piece of equipment we have there is someone giving advice and guidance in how to use them safely.
"If a member of staff sees someone doing anything beyond their ability we let them know and invite them to receive some one-to-one guidance, tips and advice.
"We say to them to come back and have a go on their own once they have built up to it.
"We cannot prevent someone having a go and doing something which they are not necessarily ready for."
