World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Aussie mum broke her neck at the trampoline park her son loved. Now she’s been told she’ll never walk again – and is suing the operators Bounce for negligence
Sarina Walker, 45, is suing Bounce Australia, alleging negligence after she broke her neck at its Grovedale trampoline centre near Geelong on 20 December 2023. The case matters because it will examine the operator’s alleged duty of care and the damages Walker is seeking; the allegations have not been established in court.
Court documents say Walker landed awkwardly and fell backwards onto her neck while jumping. Her husband said doctors initially told the family she would not walk again and that she had very limited use of her arms. After intensive rehabilitation, the family has marked progress, including a first short outing in a modified van bought for $15,000. The case is listed for a judge-only trial in Melbourne; Bounce did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
In short
- Sarina Walker is suing Bounce Australia over a 2023 trampoline injury.
- She suffered a broken neck and serious spinal cord injury.
- The case is expected to go to a judge-only trial in Melbourne.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Walker’s case is that trampoline operators owe visitors a duty to take reasonable steps to reduce foreseeable risks, especially where a serious injury could result. If the centre’s safety measures, warnings or supervision fell short of that duty, she may argue the operator should be held responsible for the harm and its lasting costs.
The case against
Bounce could argue that trampoline activities carry inherent risks and that an awkward landing can occur even when a facility takes reasonable precautions. It may also dispute whether any alleged shortcoming caused Walker’s injury, with responsibility depending on the evidence about the centre’s safety practices and the circumstances of the fall.