BLAINE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A new report is offering more details into what led to a man’s injuries at Birch Bay Waterslides last summer.
On Aug. 25, a 43-year-old man went down the park’s Hairpin slide and got his legs caught in one of the slide’s splash guards. The man suffered cuts and lacerations on both legs and was eventually transported to Harborview Medical Center. Officials quickly shut down the park and offered refunds for entry fees.
The Northern Light reports that an investigation by the Whatcom County Health and Community Services found that staff responded to the incident appropriately. Further physical inspections found missing or damaged fasteners and another loose splash guard panel on the Hairpin slide. Inspectors shut down the park’s four main slides the day after the accident.
Birch Bay Waterslides has not provided county health officials with maintenance and operations records, which led to the full revocation of their operating permit on Sept. 1. State regulations don’t require water parks to submit annual inspections to them or the county.
County health officials say that due to the lack of records submitted, it’s unclear when Birch Bay Waterslides could have their permit restored.