Posted on 08/02/2005 2:23:17 PM PDT by Cowman
Woman sues over burst shark tank By Phil Mercer BBC News, Sydney
The aquarium in Sydney is one of the largest in the world An Australian woman is suing Sydney Aquarium after a giant exhibition tank exploded, showering her with glass - and sharks.
The accident left Hazel Swinden, 61, in chest-high water with a badly gashed ankle caused by flying debris.
She claims to have suffered post-traumatic stress as a result.
One moment Ms Swinden was admiring the reef sharks at Sydney Aquarium and the next she was surrounded by them with blood pouring from a deep cut.
A glass tank had shattered, dumping thousands of litres of water on top of her.
The woman's lawyer has told a Sydney court how she was submerged for several seconds and could feel the sharks brushing past her.
She claims that acute stress forced her to give up her job as a sales assistant.
The drama took place several years ago but has only now reached court, where the victim is seeking unspecified damages.
She has also been unable to swim with lawyers.
I would have FREAKED!!!!!
Was she selling sharks?
I hate when that happens!
I've often wondered about that happening. That would have really flipped me out. Especially if I had just touched the glass for some reason. I would think I caused it and then super flip out.
Quint: Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side, chief. It was comin' back, from the island of Tinian Delay, just delivered the bomb. The Hiroshima bomb. We stopped off in Sydney to see the sights. And everything got real ugly. I'll never go to an aquarium again. Anyway, we delivered the bomb.
Landshark
I'll bet the sharks were just as surprised!
For once I can see how that would happen...how horrifying...lol
Well, she didn't melt. Or get eaten.
This has always been a fear of mine when walking around one of those big aquariums. I'd always comforted myself with the thought that it was a silly, unrealistic fear but now that it's actually happened to someone... YIKES!
LOL!
I think I had a nightmare about this once. I've often wondered how the shark exhibit at Sea World San Diego would fare if a really big earthquake hit.
I bet if Steve Irwin was there she would've been perfectly OK.
"Look at the size of those crocs and shocks!"
I used to have a T-shirt with that cartoon on it - my mom got it for me after the OJ verdict (I was PO'd). While I hate it when people use unfortunate incidents like this as a lotto ticket through litigation, she probably has a good case here. What kind of aquarium has spontaneously exploding shark tanks?
That's one of my favorite lawyer cartoons!
We'll have to follow this along and see what kind of award she is given. Ironic that most of it will probably go to the "sharks" she hires as lawyers!
(Disclaimer: I know there are those here on FR who are lawyers. My remarks are mostly due to my experience with very bad ones!)
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