Oklahoma Parents Sue Carnival Cruise Line After 5-Year-Old Injured on Unsafe Water Slide Aboard Carnival Breeze
An Oklahoma family has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida, alleging that their 5-year-old son was severely injured while using a water slide aboard the Carnival Breeze. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24713, claims that Carnival was negligent in its design, supervision, and operation of the ship’s “Drainpipe” slide at the onboard WaterWorks waterpark.
5-Year-Old Passenger Fractures Collarbone After Collision Inside Carnival Breeze Water Slide Bowl
According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred on October 15, 2024, while the Whittington family was aboard the Carnival Breeze during a Western Caribbean cruise departing from Galveston, Texas. The family’s child, identified as M.W., was using the Drainpipe slide in the ship’s WaterWorks attraction on Deck 12 when the accident happened.
The Drainpipe slide is a high-speed, bowl-style water slide that deposits riders into a circular landing area before they exit via stairs in the center of the bowl. The complaint alleges that while M.W. was still inside the bowl gathering himself after his descent, another rider was sent down the slide and collided with him at high speed. The impact allegedly caused M.W. to strike the fiberglass slide wall with his upper body, resulting in a dislocated shoulder and fractured clavicle.
Parents Claim Carnival Failed to Supervise or Safely Operate the Water Slide, Allowing Unsafe Collisions
The lawsuit accuses Carnival of failing to implement basic water slide safety procedures, including not stationing a crew member at the slide’s exit point to confirm when a rider had cleared the bowl. The plaintiffs allege that the slide’s opaque structure and the layout of the landing area make it impossible for the top attendant to see whether the previous rider has exited safely.
Despite this visibility limitation and the known risks associated with bowl-style slides, the complaint claims Carnival allowed one employee to manage the attraction from the top without visual confirmation of the exit area. The suit also asserts that similar incidents had occurred before and that Carnival failed to adjust its procedures or warn passengers and parents of the risks involved.
Carnival Accused of Ignoring Manufacturer Guidelines and Failing to Train Crew on Safe Slide Operations
The lawsuit lists numerous alleged breaches of duty, including failure to follow manufacturer recommendations for rider spacing and supervision, failure to monitor and enforce safety procedures, and improper training of crew members assigned to the WaterWorks area. Plaintiffs also allege Carnival violated industry standards such as those set by ASTM International and DIN for aquatic amusement attractions.
The Whittingtons claim that Carnival actively encouraged young children to use the Drainpipe slide through onboard marketing and design, while failing to implement reasonable safeguards to protect those same children from foreseeable injuries.
Lawsuit Seeks Compensation for Child’s Physical Injuries, Emotional Trauma, and Medical Costs
As a result of the incident, M.W. allegedly suffered a fractured clavicle and a dislocated shoulder, as well as pain, emotional trauma, and lasting physical limitations. His parents seek damages on his behalf for medical expenses, disability, loss of enjoyment of life, and other related losses. The lawsuit demands a jury trial and seeks damages in excess of $75,000.
Filed in accordance with Carnival’s forum selection clause, the case will proceed in the Southern District of Florida.
Contact a Cruise Ship Waterpark Injury Lawyer If Your Child Was Hurt on a Cruise Slide or Attraction
Cruise lines are responsible for ensuring onboard attractions like water slides are safe for children and properly supervised. If your child was injured on a cruise ship water slide due to a lack of supervision, unsafe slide design, or crew negligence, you may have grounds for a maritime personal injury claim.
Contact us today to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney experienced in child passenger claims and onboard waterpark litigation.
Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
