Harry Sloan, 5, of Wanaka in an ambulance after suffering third-degree burns to his bottom at Aussie World theme park on the Sunshine Coast. Photo / Supplied
Harry Sloan, 5, of Wanaka in an ambulance after suffering third-degree burns to his bottom at Aussie World theme park on the Sunshine Coast. Photo / Supplied
Warning: Contains graphic images of injury
A 5-year-old boy suffered third-degree burns to his bottom after sitting down on a metal waiting platform at an Australian fun park.
But while, six months later, Harry Sloan's horrific injuries have improved, his parents are feeling dejected after Aussie World management refused tooffer an apology or admit to any fault over the incident.
The holiday to Aussie World on the Sunshine Coast was meant to be an opportunity for the Wanaka family of five to create some memories after dad Andrew was diagnosed with brain cancer in February last year.
Andrew Sloan, 40, said his tennis-ball-sized tumour was discovered a month after crashing off his bike in December 2017.
Harry's burned butt cheek the day after the accident on December 21 last year. Photo / Supplied
"We've got three little kids, aged 5, 7 and 9 ... to me this is just devastating. I don't want to die when my kids are still little, so I've got everything to fight for."
The family are well-known in their tight-knit community and locals set up a Givealittle page because Sloan was off work for most of the year.
The Sloans used some of the funds to help pay for the 14-day trip across the Tasman, where they also celebrated Christmas.
On day six, a stifling hot 38C day, they went to Aussie World.
After trying out a couple of rides, Harry went to the Space Shaker, a ride akin to the Pirate Ship at Rainbow's End.
However, after walking up the stairs to wait in line, Harry was told by the attendant that he'd need his shoes on.
Sloan said he yelled out, "Hey buddy, shoes on," and as normal the little boy sat down to wait for help to put them on.
But the area he chose to sit on, albeit briefly, was a metal "chequer" plate in the ride's waiting area.
The Sloan family of Wanaka, pictured the day before Harry's accident, (from left) Oscar, 9, Cherie, 40, Charlie, 7, Andrew, 40 and Harry, 5. Photo / Supplied
After complaining of a sore bottom Harry was taken to first aid where he waited for an ambulance, Sloan said.
"It was full-thickness burns ... as bad as it gets, right down to those fleshy cells, I guess."
He said Harry was in huge amounts of pain, and had to return to hospital four more times for dressing changes.
The family returned home on December 30. Harry spent the next 14 nights in Dunedin Hospital with his mother having surgery and bandage changes which were done under general anaesthetic.
Sloan said Aussie World had got in touch the day after the incident and again in January but then the communication stopped.
After getting back in touch last week, the company told Sloan their investigation had been completed and found the incident was no fault of their own. It would offer no further recompense apart from a family pass and a $300 food and beverage voucher.
Sloan said he and wife Cherie were gutted with the company's "cold and clinical" handling of the situation, which they've never received an apology for. The incident had ruined a $13,000 holiday that was supposed to create positive memories and instead had now left their son traumatised by any surface that could get hot.
He said they finally decided to speak out to warn other families in the hope it wouldn't happen to anyone else.
"We shelled out about $12,000-$13,000 to fly across there and all the accommodation and rental car to have it all ruined ... for a holiday to celebrate me being alive."
Aussie World theme park on the Sunshine Coast. Photo / Supplied
John Paini, managing director of Aussie World, said the company treated the health and safety of guests "with the utmost seriousness and care".
"All of our staff are trained to offer initial assistance and first aid when a guest is ill or injured, they also understand the importance of undertaking an emergency response if required.
"This particular incident was clearly distressing for all parties involved, including many of our staff members whose children regularly attend our theme park."
He said Aussie World continued to comply will all national occupational health and safety regulations and there had been no significant issues raised by the inspection teams.
Sloan said he was disappointed with the company's response, which he felt was the family again getting "pawned off as unimportant" by a big corporate company that lacked empathy.
