Waterpark slide accident leaves British man on life-support machine

‘Our son went on holiday with his girlfriend and we have been told he might never walk again’

A British holidaymaker could be paralysed for life after breaking his neck on a waterslide in Spain.

David Briffaut, 23, snapped two vertebrae in his neck and injured his spinal cord after plunging head first down the slide at Aqualandia waterpark in Benidorm.

The golf greenkeeper, from Essex, had to be pulled from the water after losing consciousness. When he came round, he could not feel his legs.

He is now on a life support machine in an Alicante hospital and his family has been warned he could be paralysed from the chest down.

His parents, teacher Lorraine and construction worker Stephane, have flown out to bring him home.

They made the decision to release video footage of the freak accident as they called for an investigation into the safety of the slide.

In the footage filmed by a friend on 8 July, Mr Briffaut can be seen racing down the slide, called Splash, on a red board alongside his girlfriend Penny Bristow.

But as the pair reached the end of the ride, Mr Briffaut’s head appeared to snap forward as he hit the water.

David Briffaut, 23, who may be paralysed for life after an accident at Aqualandia waterpark in Benidorm, pictured with girlfriend Penny Bristow. (KBA Communications/family handout/PA Wire)

His mother Lorraine, 55, told MailOnline: “We are living in every parents’ nightmare. Our son went on holiday with his girlfriend and we have been told he might never walk again. All we can do now is pray that he can recover.”

Mr Briffaut’s uncle, Mark, said: “This is every family’s worst nightmare. David is a wonderful young man, who was enjoying an innocent day out with his girlfriend.

“We are praying for a miracle, but we have been told that the injuries he has sustained are very traumatic.

“We believe there should be a full investigation into the circumstances of what happened.”

An online appeal has been set up to raise £75,000 to help fund the care and treatment Mr Briffaut will need once he returns home.

Amy Llambias, who set up the appeal, wrote: “David was enjoying a holiday in Jávea on the Costa Blanca Spain with his girlfriend Penny and another young couple.

“A couple of days before they were due to fly home to Essex the four decided to travel down the coast to Benidorm and visit the Aqualandia Waterpark.

“What began as a fun day out ended in tragedy when David suffered his horrific injuries coming down a waterslide.”

Childhood sweetheart Penny, 22, is said to be “emotionally all over the place”.

Posting a link to the fundraising appeal online, she said: “Breaks my heart having to share this but we would truly appreciate everyone’s support in sharing and donating anything they can for David to get the care and support he needs.

“I love you so much, we will get through this.”

A spokesman for Aqualandia told MailOnline that it was false to suggest the ride was unsafe.

He said that the waterpark had video footage suggesting Mr Briffaut “didn’t follow the guidelines for Splash”.

The spokesman added that the park is subjected to a review by an external company which makes an “exhaustive review of all the slides” and staff check them every morning.

The Independent has contacted Aqualandia for comment.