February 10, 2013

Man sues agency after cliff fall


A MAN who was left a paraplegic after falling 20m on to a North Stradbroke beach is suing a real estate agency and a council for almost $1.7 million, claiming they failed to warn him about a "dangerous" cliff. 
  
Andrew Morris is suing Ray White North Stradbroke Island for allegedly giving him inadequate instructions about stairs to a beach at Point Lookout.

Mr Morris had gone to the island on February 10, 2010 and rented a holiday house above Frenchmans Beach so he could celebrate his 40th birthday with friends.

He suffered severe spinal injuries when he fell from a cliff, after he ventured out at night with two friends looking for the stairs to the beach near the rental house.

His claim for $1,697,491 is against both Redland City Council, for failing to put up cliff-top warning signs, and the rental agency.

He claims a staff member at Ray White North Stradbroke Island told him the stairs to the beach were "across the road" from his rental property.
He and two friends left the house about 9 o'clock that night to look for the "200" beach stairs. At first they walked about 30-40m to the left along Midjimberry Rd but could not find any signs or lighting indicating stairs to the beach, the claim states.

They then walked back, about 30-50m past the rental property and found a well-worn track leading off from a lit-up wooden boardwalk and grass area, it is alleged.

Mr Morris's two friends thought the track must be the pathway to the beach and they followed it for about 70-90m and Mr Morris found what he thought were the stairs to the beach.

He says that as he leant on a tree branch it snapped, and he fell 20m to Frenchmans Beach.

Michael Gapes of Carter and Newell, representing Ray White North Stradbroke Island, said the agency denied "each and every allegation" and would continue to vigorously defend the claim.

Redland City Council said it could not comment.

Source http://www.couriermail.com.au/

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