Vic schoolgirl sues over cadet camp injury

A Melbourne schoolgirl whose face was disfigured after she cut herself, fainted and fell into an open fire on an army cadet camp is suing the Victorian and federal governments.

Annie Louey was a 16-year-old student at Melbourne High School in South Yarra when she enrolled as a member of the Melbourne High Army Cadet Unit and attended a cadet course in June 2009.

The course involved a survival exercise requiring students to prepare and cook their own meals at night without adult supervision, according to a writ filed in the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday.

Ms Louey was attempting to prepare a meal when she inadvertently sliced her finger with a knife, causing her to faint and fall into an open fire, the documents state.

She had been required to cut up pumpkin with a small pocket knife and there was no supervision by employees or agents at the time, the documents said.

She suffered deep burns to the left side of her face, left ear, left neck and left chest, leaving her with severe facial disfigurement.

She now suffers anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and pain, shock and suffering, the documents say.

Ms Louey’s lawyers said the incident and her resultant injury, loss and damage were caused by the negligence of the Victorian and federal governments.

They had failed to supervise Ms Louey, allowed and requested her to conduct a dangerous activity and failed to provide her with adequate cooking utensils, instead providing her with a knife that was “insufficient and inadequate” for cutting pumpkin, the statement of claim said.

They allegedly failed to take adequate precautions for her safety and wellbeing, or to supervise a large open fire or provide adequate lighting.

They also allegedly failed to exercise due care and exposed the girl to risk of injury which they knew or ought to have known and which could have been avoided with reasonable care.

Ms Louey, now 18, is suing for damages for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment and amenities of life.

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes