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Falling palm tree injures British tourist in Negombo

27 April 2017 07:10 pm - 9     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A British tourist is suing a tour operator after a falling palm tree crushed her legs and left her feet 'going in different directions', the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday.

Claire Saywell, 42, was relaxing at a four-star hotel in Negombo with her husband David when a 50ft tree fell across her sun-bed, shattering her legs.

'I was dozing in the sun with my eyes closed and the next thing I knew I had this excruciating pain in my legs. I remember seeing the tree and screaming as the pain was nothing like I've ever experienced. My legs were bent down in a V shape where the sun lounger had broken. I will never get that vision out of my head. I thought my legs were gone,” she said.

Mrs Saywell said the tree also hit another British tourist who suffered minor injuries, and it took 45 minutes for an ambulance to come to her aid.

After being transferred to Colombo, she had titanium pins inserted in her legs in hospital where she spent 12 days before being flown home on a private jet.

Mrs Saywell, who is now taking legal action, said she ended up with two broken legs, and suffers nightmares, flashbacks and a fear of going abroad.

She said: 'Personally I would take down all of the palm trees around where people sunbathe to prevent this happening again. We've been offered a free holiday but I don't want to go back.'

Larry Shaw, of law firm Slater and Gordon, which represents Mrs Saywell, said: 'It is crucial that holiday resorts and tour operators ensure trees are properly inspected and maintained to avoid incidents like this happening again.'


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  Comments - 9

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  • Booruwa Thursday, 27 April 2017 07:52 PM

    How the hell can trees around vacation spots be inspected when nature or God calls the shots. That woman was lucky to have even survived. Why don't the law firm sue God or nature instead?

    roshan Thursday, 27 April 2017 08:48 PM

    its going to be interesting.. here in SL we cant sue the garbage dumpers even after it killed 30 human beings.. via DM Android App

    ceylon Thursday, 27 April 2017 09:27 PM

    cant escape from karma. via DM Android App

    kondaya77 Thursday, 27 April 2017 09:43 PM

    Booruwa,! appropriate name for you.

    Rabbit Thursday, 27 April 2017 10:00 PM

    Sorry lady for your misfortune, but, you picked wrong coconut tree to get skin cancer. In fact, we in Sri Lanka do not lie under ANY coconut tree fearful of coconuts falling on us. Should have read Dos and Don'ts in Sri Lanka.

    Sha Thursday, 27 April 2017 10:29 PM

    To sue against whom? It will take decades to get verdict

    Yeti Friday, 28 April 2017 06:42 AM

    Hazards of living in Sri Lanka!

    Flatwhite Friday, 28 April 2017 10:53 AM

    Unlike first world countries where there a law and people abide by it in SL there is NO law. You can get away with anything.

    British blood Saturday, 29 April 2017 11:56 AM

    There are unexpected happenings,we can't blame the tree,sometimes can blame the people who rest near unless it is banyan tree without any second thought.


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