Mom Sues Disney for $2 Million After Claiming a ‘Mammoth Wave' Injured Her in a Typhoon Lagoon Kiddie Pool: ‘There Was Blood'
Kimberly Panetta is suing Disney Parks and Resorts for $2 million after claiming she was hit by a "mammoth" wave while standing in a kids' section of the water park
The mom claimed she was pushed under the water and her body "skidded" against the rough base of the pool for several feet
The 45-year-old woman claimed her family vacation was ruined and that she still has scars from the 2022 incident
A New York woman is suing Disney resorts after she claimed she was injured by a 'mammoth wave' at the Typhoon Lagoon water park.
Kimberly Panetta, 45, of Dix Hills, N.Y., said she was vacationing with her family at Typhoon Lagoon — a Disney-owned water park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — in April 2022 when the incident occurred, per a legal complaint filed in federal court in New York on April 11.
According to the complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Panetta claimed she was standing in a kiddie pool waiting for her young daughter to descend down an age-appropriate slide when a 'mammoth wave' from another area of the pool struck her from the side with so much force that 'it pummeled her.'
The complaint stated that her body 'skidded across the cement or gunite, causing serious 'road rash' or scrapes that were severe and deep.'
Now, Panetta is seeking $2 million in damages for continued 'medical care and treatment' and 'mental anguish,' per the complaint.
The complaint claimed that Panetta's family vacation was 'ruined' because 'she was stuck limping around applying bandages, salves and creams, and was forced to avoid swimming and enjoying planned visits to the parks.'
Related: Woman Suing Walt Disney World for $50K Over 'Injurious Wedgie' on Typhoon Lagoon Water Slide
The complaint also claimed Panetta now has 'scars' and 'marks' on her legs that cause her to feel self-conscious, and that she now does not wear clothing that exposes her legs, even when it is 'hot and uncomfortable.' The plaintiff also claimed this is a direct 'result of negligence' on behalf of the park.
In the complaint, Panetta claimed that the park 'should not have let the wave pool or 'typhoon' power waves enter the kiddie area and pummel the parents that [were] unwittingly waiting for their young children to descend.'
The complaint also claimed that the barriers around the kiddie area 'should have protected mothers standing at the bottom of the slide from being thrown, tossed and pummeled by powerful waves.'
PEOPLE reached out to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, as well as Panetta's attorney, for comment on Saturday, April 26, but did not receive an immediate response.
Related: Disney World Seeks to Dismiss Doctor's Wrongful Death Lawsuit Because He Subscribed to Disney+ for a Month in 2019
Panetta recalled the incident — and specifically the wave — while recently speaking to The New York Post.
'It was so powerful it was actually dragging us under the water for several feet,' she said. 'I just thank God I had the sense to push her [my daughter] above as I was getting dragged. I knew if she was the one getting dragged she would have been cut all over.'
'I felt pain immediately and I looked down and there was blood,' she continued. 'You think you're in the happiest place on Earth and the safest place, but it's like being dragged on concrete — it's very rough.'
Panetta also told the outlet that her children, then ages 3 and 7, were 'mortified' — and also shocked to see 'blood pouring out of their mother.'
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'We had all these plans and we had to cancel everything. I couldn't even go in the pool where we were staying. I had to stay inside. Everything was completely ruined,' she explained.
Panetta's husband, Frank Panetta, added that their young daughter 'would have definitely been hurt had my wife not held her up and taken the brunt of the injury,' noting that his wife skidded 'for 15 or 20 feet.'
He also told The Post that the resort ultimately only offered their family a $250 credit after the incident.
Read the original article on People
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