WEBVTT VISION.REPORTER: YES, SHANNON, MIKE,HIS ATTORNEY TELLS ME HE STILLHAS TROUBLE SEEING OUT OF THISEYE.KENNYWOOD IS THE DEFENDANT INTHIS CIVIL LAWSUIT ALLEGING THATOVER THIS PAST SUMMER IN JULYTHIS MAN WAS ON THE RAGINGRAPIDS, THE LAWSUIT SAYING THATWATER SQUIRTED UP INTO HIS EYEALONG WITH A DANGEROUS PARASITE.THE BIGGEST FEAR FOR MOST RIDERSOF OF THE RAGING RAPIDS ISUSUALLY GETTING SOAKED BY THEWATER FALL.BUT ONE MAN SAYS JUST A SPLASHLED TO SOMETHING MUCH MOREFRIGHTENING.>> A VERY SERIOUS INJURY FROM APARASITE THAT WAS IN THE WATER.REPORTER: THE ATTORNEY SAYS HISCLIENT ROBERT TROSTLE SUFFEREDTHE INJURY ON JULY 2 WHEN HE WASA BUSINESS INVITE HE TO THEPARK.ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT THESPLASHING WATER CAUSED TOM COMEIN CONTACT WITH MICROSPORIDIA, AHARMFUL PARASITE THAT EATS AWAYAT THE CORNEA OF THE EYE.THE SUIT SAYS TROSTLE WAS DOIING --DIAGNOSED WITH MICROSPORIDIAKERATITIS, ALSO ALLEGING THAT HEHAD TO UNDERGO EXTREMELY PAINFULSURGERY WHERE THE PARASITE WASSCRAPED OUT OF THE EYE WITH ASCALPEL.>> FOR A PARASITE IN THISCOUNTRY, I THINK IT FROM THE FAREAST.REPORTER: KENNYWOOD PART SAYINGIN PART.WE ASKED TROSTLE'S ATTORNEYWHETHER THE PARASITE COULD HAVECOME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.HE SAID IT HAS TO BE FROM THERAGING RAPIDS.>> NO OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE,OTHER THAN THAT.REPORTER: THE ATTORNEY WOULD NOTSPECIFY EXACTLY WHAT DAMAGESHE'S SEEKING, HOW MUCH MONEYPERHAPS, BUT DID SAY THEY AREFILING THIS LAWSUIT BECAUSE OFCOOPERATION FROM KENNYWOOD.THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANDTHE STATE DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURE WHICH OVERSEE ASMUSEMENT PARK RIDES IN TERMS OFGETTING INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
Couple sues Kennywood, alleging man got parasite from Raging Rapids
Lawsuit alleges man contracted eye parasite from water
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Updated: 11:28 PM EST Nov 29, 2017
A man claims he contracted a "harmful parasite that eats away at the cornea of the eye" when he was splashed with water while riding the Raging Rapids at Kennywood Park, according to a lawsuit filed this week.Robert and Krystsina Trostle, of Squirrel Hill, were waiting in line July 2 when they noticed that the water surrounding the ride was "dirty, stagnant and sludge-like," the lawsuit said. "Additionally, the Trostles noticed that the waterfall was not operating."Near the end of the ride, Robert Trostle was splashed with water in his left eye, according to the lawsuit."Unbeknownst to Robert, this seemingly inconsequential event caused him to come into contact with microsporidia, a harmful parasite that eats away at the cornea of the eye and was present in the water used in the Raging Rapids," the lawsuit claims.Stay updated with breaking news: Download the WTAE mobile appOver the next two days, Robert Trostle's left eye became inflamed, itchy, red, photosensitive and "severely painful," the lawsuit said.He was diagnosed with acute conjunctivitis on July 5 and given antibiotics, but the symptoms got worse, and he was diagnosed with microsporidia keratitis on July 14, according to the lawsuit."Robert had to undergo an extremely painful surgery where the parasite was scraped out of the eye with a surgical scalpel, and he was required to remain in a dark room for the next two days," the lawsuit said. "The microsporidia parasite penetrated the second level of Robert's eye and the entirety of the parasite was unable to be removed via surgery. Robert still has problems with his left eye, including but not limited to, blurry vision, difficulty with night vision, redness, itchiness, dryness, inflammation and pain, along with microsporidia still being present in his eye."The Trostles claim that Kennywood did not have "adequate policies and procedures to inspect the water being used on the 'Raging Rapids' ride to eliminate and/or reduce the dangers posed by microsporidia and ensure it is safe for use," according to the lawsuit.The suit was filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, alleging negligence against Kennywood Entertainment and claiming damages in excess of $35,000.Nobody answered the door Wednesday night at the address listed in the Trostles' lawsuit.“As soon as he was shot in the eye with the water, he immediately started experiencing, that day, discomfort in that eye. There's no other possible cause other than that," said Trostle's attorney, Alan Perer, via telephone. Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise said he was unable to comment on pending litigation. In an email, he said the parasite claim was an allegation that has not been proven."In general, safety is Kennywood's top priority in everything we do, and that certainly extends to maintenance of the rides and water involved in rides," Paradise said.
PITTSBURGH — A man claims he contracted a "harmful parasite that eats away at the cornea of the eye" when he was splashed with water while riding the Raging Rapids at Kennywood Park, according to a lawsuit filed this week.
Robert and Krystsina Trostle, of Squirrel Hill, were waiting in line July 2 when they noticed that the water surrounding the ride was "dirty, stagnant and sludge-like," the lawsuit said. "Additionally, the Trostles noticed that the waterfall was not operating."
Near the end of the ride, Robert Trostle was splashed with water in his left eye, according to the lawsuit.
"Unbeknownst to Robert, this seemingly inconsequential event caused him to come into contact with microsporidia, a harmful parasite that eats away at the cornea of the eye and was present in the water used in the Raging Rapids," the lawsuit claims.
Stay updated with breaking news: Download the WTAE mobile app
Over the next two days, Robert Trostle's left eye became inflamed, itchy, red, photosensitive and "severely painful," the lawsuit said.
He was diagnosed with acute conjunctivitis on July 5 and given antibiotics, but the symptoms got worse, and he was diagnosed with microsporidia keratitis on July 14, according to the lawsuit.
"Robert had to undergo an extremely painful surgery where the parasite was scraped out of the eye with a surgical scalpel, and he was required to remain in a dark room for the next two days," the lawsuit said. "The microsporidia parasite penetrated the second level of Robert's eye and the entirety of the parasite was unable to be removed via surgery. Robert still has problems with his left eye, including but not limited to, blurry vision, difficulty with night vision, redness, itchiness, dryness, inflammation and pain, along with microsporidia still being present in his eye."
The Trostles claim that Kennywood did not have "adequate policies and procedures to inspect the water being used on the 'Raging Rapids' ride to eliminate and/or reduce the dangers posed by microsporidia and ensure it is safe for use," according to the lawsuit.
The suit was filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, alleging negligence against Kennywood Entertainment and claiming damages in excess of $35,000.
Nobody answered the door Wednesday night at the address listed in the Trostles' lawsuit.
“As soon as he was shot in the eye with the water, he immediately started experiencing, that day, discomfort in that eye. There's no other possible cause other than that," said Trostle's attorney, Alan Perer, via telephone.
Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise said he was unable to comment on pending litigation. In an email, he said the parasite claim was an allegation that has not been proven.
"In general, safety is Kennywood's top priority in everything we do, and that certainly extends to maintenance of the rides and water involved in rides," Paradise said.
