By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
Water slides are meant to be a fun way to cool off, but an Englishman has been left steaming after a mishap at a Taupo pool complex.
Chris Bragoli, an associate English professor at a university in Japan, was visiting Taupo Hot Springs
Spa with a friend last week when he was injured going down the giant dragon slide.
As well as suffering a chipped tooth and cuts to his face and head, he claims to have momentarily lost consciousness after landing in the pool at the bottom of the slide.
A young boy in the pool saw Mr Bragoli was bleeding and alerted staff who promptly bandaged his wounds and rang St John Ambulance.
Although happy with the treatment, Mr Bragoli was concerned that at the time of the accident there were no staff monitoring the safety of visitors in the pool.
"Had the child not been there I could have drowned," he said.
He has complained to the complex manager and contacted Occupational Safety and Health about the accident.
"I want to do something about it before someone gets killed there."
On the complex's website the giant dragon slide is described as Taupo's hottest family activity and "awesomely cool ... It's really scary, heaps better than reading Harry Potter at home alone or playing the latest games on Xbox or Game Boy".
The website states the slide is suitable for adults and children as young as six. Visitors using the slide must wait at the top for a green light before going down, feet first and on their backs.
Mr Bragoli said he obeyed the rules and saw no signs alerting him to any safety risk.
"New Zealand is supposed to be a place for adventure and there is supposed to be a risk involved but not when you're going down a water slide."
Taupo Hot Springs manager Jan Rameka said she was aware of the accident and staff acted professionally in treating Mr Bragoli's injuries. She declined to comment further.
Occupational Safety and Health could not be reached for comment yesterday.
St John Taupo area manager Graeme Harvey said paramedics were called to the complex less than five times a year.
"It's usually for little things like someone who has been running around and slipped over."
By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
Water slides are meant to be a fun way to cool off, but an Englishman has been left steaming after a mishap at a Taupo pool complex.
Chris Bragoli, an associate English professor at a university in Japan, was visiting Taupo Hot Springs
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