Writ filed after skiing accident
AN air hostess injured during a water-skiing accident is suing two boat-owners.
Miss Sandra Cho Seong-ja, now 36, a Cathay Pacific co-ordinator, was knocked unconscious when she was hit by a metal pole after a water-skiing line became tangled with the propellers of a passing vessel.
She sustained head injuries, a dislocated shoulder and a fractured collar bone, a writ filed with the Supreme Court states.
Miss Cho claims the accident was caused by the negligence of Mr Julian Armstrong, owner of a speedboat, Jade III, on which she was a passenger, and Mr Johannes Kaidel, owner of Patricia I.
The statement of claim says that Miss Cho went on a boat trip with Miss Yeo Ka on October 7, 1990, and took turns water skiing in the channel leading from Sai Kung towards High Island Reservoir.
The skiing line was attached to a metal pole erected in the centre of Jade III, which was steered by Mr Armstrong.
Miss Yeo finished her turn, let go of the skiing line, and climbed back on board. Miss Cho was sitting at the port side at the front of the vessel when Patricia I, driven by Mr Kaidel, approached.
It is the plaintiff's case that as Mr Kaidel's boat moved away, the skiing line, which was still trailing from Jade III, became tangled in the propeller of Patricia I.
As a result, the plaintiff claims, the metal pole was pulled out and hit Miss Cho on the back of her head and shoulder with great force.
It is Miss Cho's case that she not only sustained physical injuries but also psychological disabilities including impaired concentration and depression.
She also has nightmares about the accident.
According to the writ, at the time of the accident Miss Cho was a senior purser employed by Cathay Pacific and was to be promoted to co-ordinator, which was to take effect from December 1, 1990.
Because of the incident it was deferred for four weeks pending her recovery.
It is also pleaded that her performance as co-ordinator was adversely affected by her disabilities and her promotion prospects adversely affected.
It is the plaintiff's case that the accident was caused by the negligence of Mr Armstrong for allowing the skiing line to remain floating on the water and of Mr Kaidel for failing to pay sufficient attention to its presence when his vessel approached Jade III.
