A Skagit County man has sued the owners of Birch Bay Waterslides for negligence after undergoing surgeries for severe injuries he sustained on a slide at the water park in August 2023.
Larry Baker’s complaint, filed on Thursday, May 9, alleges that park owner Birch Bay Jun Yu Waterslides LLC neglected to maintain safe premises, supervise staff and contractors to ensure safe practices, inspect equipment adequately and comply with state law regarding water parks.
Baker, who was 43 at the time, was coming down a slide called the Hairpin at the Whatcom County attraction when his legs passed through a ripped panel of fiberglass. He suffered lacerations and bleeding on his legs and feet and ended up in the ICU at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Cascadia Daily News reported in April that corroded and missing bolts were found on one of the fiberglass slides, the Hairpin, following the incident. Health officials suspended the park’s operational permit fully in September 2023 because the water park’s managers did not immediately provide 2023 inspection documents, according to a February investigation report.
The plaintiff is seeking compensation for his medical bills, other out-of-pocket expenses, economic loss, and loss of enjoyment of life due to permanent injuries. He’s also asking for attorney’s fees and interest on expenses. Baker is represented by attorneys from the injury law firm Driggs, Bills & Day PLLC.
Both Baker and his attorneys were unavailable for comment.
The suit came around the same time water park manager Iain Buchanan announced that the park would not reopen this summer, saying that staff and outside contractors needed to focus on meeting the county’s requirements as well as performing maintenance and repairs.
After the 2023 incident, the business shut down, and Whatcom County Health and Community Services revoked the park’s operating permit because managers did not immediately provide inspection records from 2023.
In April 2024, the county laid out strict criteria for the park to reopen, requiring repairs, inspections and better record-keeping.
State code doesn’t mandate how often a water park must be inspected for safety — only that park owners are responsible for conducting such inspections “routinely.”
More comprehensive annual inspections are handled by private companies. Park staff told county investigators that Kingworks, a structural engineering firm based in Bellingham, inspected the concrete, steel and wooden support structures. A national company, Safe Slide Restoration, conducted yearly inspections of the fiberglass slides.
The 14.5-acre park at 4874 Birch Bay Lynden Road closed for the day shortly after the accident on Aug. 25, 2023, with all guests getting refunds.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
