WARNING: This article contains images some people may find distressing. 

A senior nurse has issues an urgent warning to anyone thinking of visiting trampoline parks after she snapped her leg jumping in a foam pit which left her unable to walk and in agonising pain.

Jodie Wright, 36, was visiting a Flip Out trampoline park in Preston, Lancashire with her partner’s daughter last February when the terrifying incident happened. She jumped off a plastic stepping stone into a foam pit below she was left ‘screaming in agony’ after severely injuring her ankle and leg when she fell.

She was rush to hospital and needed surgery to help piece her leg back together. Now she is taking legal action against the Flip Out park for negligence and is warning others about the dangers posed by trampoline parks.

Two former owners of another Flip Out trampoline park in Chester, David Shuttleworth and Matthew Melling, were handed 250 hours community service and a fine earlier this year after pleading guilty to health and safety violations after 11 people broke their backs in their venue.

Jodie from Lincoln said: “Trampoline parks are still a real danger. People need to be aware. I visited a Flip Out for a day trip last year but ended up having to stay in the area for over a month as I was left unable to walk. I jumped just like the video shows and I was still injured. I am still in pain most days and have been told my symptoms are likely to be for life.”

After putting on special socks designed to increase grip on the trampolines and watching the safety video she attempted the Stepping Stones attraction – a series of plastic columns increasing in size.

She said: “I found them quite hard work. So I jumped in the pit filled with foam pieces as instructed but instead of breaking my fall my foot hit the bottom and I heard a crack and knew something bad had happened.” Staff heard her screams and lowered a small step ladder into the pit and two members of staff helped her out to the side. Then she says a female first aider suggested she hadn’t been badly injured suggesting she had just ‘sprained her ankle’.

She added: “As a nurse I know the difference between a sprain and a break. And I heard the crack. It wasn’t just broken, my leg was shattered.” She got a lift to Royal Preston Hospital where X- rays revealed she had suffered a Pilon Fracture – involving her leg and ankle joint – requiring surgery.

GP nurse and trainer Jodie added: “When the nurse touched my toe I screamed in agony. Having also been a surgical nurse I was so nervous to be on the other side as I knew how serious my injury was and that I had a long recovery ahead.”

The following day she underwent surgery. She added: “The surgeon said it was a hard impact injury and my ankle was just mush and some bone was halfway up my leg – it was horrific to hear.”

Despite living in Lincoln, Jodie was forced to stay in Preston to recover due to the severity of her injuries. She added: “I was given a Zimmer frame as I couldn’t do any weight bearing on my injured leg and ankle. I lost my independence and had to rely on my partner to help me wash and dress. Luckily I could stay at my partner’s house. I was housebound apart from medical appointments – it was a horrific time.”

She still has metalwork in her leg and has since been told she may need further surgery and has pain in her hip after limping through her injury. Jodie added: “When it’s cold my leg is really painful and now my hip is hurting as well as I am putting more weight on it due to my limp.”

Following her accident, she contacted trampoline park injury specialists Express Solicitors who have made a formal claim against Flip Out Preston. Senior Injury expert Paul Stanley said: “Jodie went for an afternoon of fun and has been left with significant injuries. Park owners are under a duty to make sure their premises and attractions such as this are safe for all visitors.”

A spokesperson for Flip Out – who deny liability – said they were constantly reviewing procedures to ensure equipment is as safe as possible.

They added: “Flip Out Preston is a franchisee owned location. Flip Out treats every injury seriously. Safety is of the utmost importance to us as an organisation. This was an isolated incident that was reviewed and investigated thoroughly. Safety of our customers at the heart of what we do, and it is our number one priority.”