Health

Woman sues after contracting flesh-eating disease at water park that led to more than $1M in bills 


South Carolina woman who contracted flesh-eating bacteria at a WATER PARK is hit with more than $1million in medical bills

  • WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
  • Beverly Lanham, of North Augusta, Georgia, was visiting Wild Water & Wheels water park in June 2017
  • She was knocked down by a wave in the wave pool and scraped her right arm
  • Lanham was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria that destroys tissue under the skin 
  • In a lawsuit, Lanham alleged that she has had multiple surgeries, faces ongoing pain and has racked up more than $1million in medical bills
  • She accused Wild Water & Wheels of not cleaning its water or testing for bacteria, which the park denies 

A South Carolina woman has filed a lawsuit against a local water park after she allegedly contracted a flesh-eating disease.

Beverly Lanham, of North Augusta, was visiting Wild Water & Wheels in June 2017 when she was knocked down by a wave in the wave pool.

She scraped her right arm, which is when ‘the flesh-eating organisms entered Plaintiff’s body,’ the lawsuit states, according to the Myrtle Beach Sun News.

Lanham was soon diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, an infection that destroys tissue under the skin.

According to the lawsuit, Lanham has acquired more than $1million in medical bills because of her multiple surgeries and doctors’ visits. 

Beverly Lanham, of North Augusta, Georgia, was visiting Wild Water & Wheels water park in June 2017.  Pictured: Lanham showing her infected right arm

She was knocked down by a wave in the wave pool and scraped her right arm. Pictured: Lanham showing her infected right arm

Beverly Lanham, of North Augusta, Georgia, was visiting Wild Water & Wheels water park in June 2017. She was knocked down by a wave in the wave pool and scraped her right arm. Pictured, left and right: Lanham showing her infected right arm 

Lanham was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria that destroys tissue under the skin. Pictured: Wild Water & Wheels water park

Lanham was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria that destroys tissue under the skin. Pictured: Wild Water & Wheels water park

According to Lanham’s attorney, Roy Willey, she didn’t go to any other water park or ocean between her visit to Wild Water & Wheels and her diagnosis. 

The lawsuit states that she has suffered ‘permanent disfigurement’ and still faces serious pain.

It is unclear how much she is asking for in damages.   

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare bacterial infection that quickly kills surrounding tissue.

The exact cause of the infection is unknown, but it can enter the body through the tiniest cut or scrape in the skin.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 700 and 1,200 cases occur in the US each year.

Early symptoms include a red or swollen area of the skin and severe pain. Later symptoms can include dizziness, nausea, blisters and change in skin color.

The health agency says that a prompt diagnosis and rapid treatment is key to stopping the infection in its tracks.

This includes antibiotics or surgery when medication is unable to reach the tissue that has already been infected.

The CDC says about 25 to 30 percent of necrotizing fasciitis cases every year result in death. 

In a lawsuit, Lanham alleged that she has had multiple surgeries, faces ongoing pain and has racked up $1million in medical bills. Pictured: Lanham showing her infected right arm

In a lawsuit, Lanham alleged that she has had multiple surgeries, faces ongoing pain and has racked up $1million in medical bills. Pictured: Lanham showing her infected right arm 

She accused Wild Water & Wheels of not cleaning its water or testing it for bacteria, which the park denies. Pictured: Courtesy of WECT

She accused Wild Water & Wheels of not cleaning its water or testing it for bacteria, which the park denies. Pictured: Courtesy of WECT

‘We were hopeful we could wait until Beverly was completely done with treatment before filing the lawsuit to show the true measure of her damages, but it has become apparent she will have to undergo treatment and will be disfigured for the rest of her life,’ Willey told the Sun News in a statement. 

WIlley did not immediately return DailyMail.com’s request for comment.  

Lanham alleges in her lawsuit that Wild Water & Wheels failed to clean its water supply and conduct regular testing.

Mark Lazarus, the proprietor of the water park, denied the allegations on Wednesday in a statement.

‘We don’t comment on pending litigation,’ he told the Sun News. ‘Wild Water has been in business for 29 years and holds high standards for water quality.’



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.