A TODDLER picked up E coli on an outing to a safari park, her mother claimed yesterday.
Kerry Ramage, of Symington, Lanarkshire, blames the operators of Blair Drummond Safari Park for her daughter's kidney failure – a claim which they dispute.
Ms Ramage is seeking damages of £500,000. Papers lodged at the Court of Session in Edinbu
rgh tell how Beth was 19 months old when her mother and aunt took her to the Stirlingshire safari park in July 2002.
As they waited near the departure point for "monkey island", Ms Ramage says she noticed there were ducks, geese and swans in the area and there had been a build-up of bird and animal droppings.
Judge Lord Mackay of Drumadoon was told that Beth's arm came into contact with the droppings and then into contact with her mouth.
Mrs Ramage claims there were no members of the safari park staff in the area to supervise children and there were insufficient washing facilities. They were only able to wash the toddler's arm with cold water.
Since then, she says, extra washing facilities have been installed, there are signs reminding visitors to wash their hands, and health information leaflets are handed out. There are also regular checks for build-up of animal faeces.
The judge heard claims that Beth picked up an E coli infection from the animal droppings which led to acute renal failure requiring dialysis. The damage is said to be permanent and may deteriorate to the point where she needs a transplant. She also remains on medication.
Scottish African Safari Park Ltd, based in Egham, Surrey, who run the Blair Drummond site, are contesting the civil action.
They say environmental health officers took 21 samples from the area after the incident and all proved negative for the presence of E coli.
The owners state: "There is no evidence that Beth Ramage contracted E coli during her claimed visit to the safari park."
At a preliminary hearing Lord Mackay had to decide whether the claims against the company should be heard by a jury or whether a judge alone should hear the evidence.
In a written ruling Lord Mackay decided against a jury trial because there were a number of complex legal issues to be examined, as well as questions of fact.
No date has been fixed for any future hearing.
E coli symptoms can range from mild diarrhoea to abdominal cramps and blood in the stools. Some patients also suffer from a complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which kills red blood cells and can cause kidney failure.
Children under five are part-icularly vulnerable to HUS. About 5 to 10 per cent of them progress to this stage.
In severe cases, it can cause permanent kidney damage.
Young children are particularly vulnerable because they cannot tolerate much fluid and blood loss.
The full article contains 484 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
