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| Family want answers over Benidorm water park accident | Family want answers over Benidorm water park accident |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The mother of a man who broke his neck in an accident at a Spanish water park says the family "want to know why and how it happened". | The mother of a man who broke his neck in an accident at a Spanish water park says the family "want to know why and how it happened". |
| David Briffaut, 23, was left seriously injured after going on the Splash ride at Aqualandia in Benidorm on 8 July. | David Briffaut, 23, was left seriously injured after going on the Splash ride at Aqualandia in Benidorm on 8 July. |
| His mother Lorraine Briffaut said it made a "huge difference to know that people are there supporting us and understanding how we are feeling". | His mother Lorraine Briffaut said it made a "huge difference to know that people are there supporting us and understanding how we are feeling". |
| Aqualandia said the park was "not responsible for the accident". | Aqualandia said the park was "not responsible for the accident". |
| Mr Briffaut, from Benfleet in Essex, had been at the water park with his girlfriend Penny Bristow to celebrate her completing her degree. | Mr Briffaut, from Benfleet in Essex, had been at the water park with his girlfriend Penny Bristow to celebrate her completing her degree. |
| He lost consciousness after hitting the water at the bottom of the Splash ride and suffered catastrophic injuries to his spinal cord - breaking his neck in two places. | He lost consciousness after hitting the water at the bottom of the Splash ride and suffered catastrophic injuries to his spinal cord - breaking his neck in two places. |
| Mr Briffaut has been left paralysed but the extent of his injuries are still being assessed and he is in a stable condition in a hospital in Alicante. | Mr Briffaut has been left paralysed but the extent of his injuries are still being assessed and he is in a stable condition in a hospital in Alicante. |
| Mrs Briffaut and her husband Stephane have flown to Spain to be with their son and hope to bring him home by air ambulance. | Mrs Briffaut and her husband Stephane have flown to Spain to be with their son and hope to bring him home by air ambulance. |
| Speaking to BBC Look East from Spain, Mrs Briffaut said the family had been "overwhelmed" by the support it had received, which she described as "absolutely fantastic". | |
| "You feel that your life has stopped. You feel your life that your life has been completely turned upside down. It's horrible, it's horrendous," she added. | "You feel that your life has stopped. You feel your life that your life has been completely turned upside down. It's horrible, it's horrendous," she added. |
| Mr Briffaut works as a green-keeper at a golf club in Essex and is a junior county golfer. | Mr Briffaut works as a green-keeper at a golf club in Essex and is a junior county golfer. |
| His mother said he was "wonderful, funny and kind and lives for his sport". | His mother said he was "wonderful, funny and kind and lives for his sport". |
| Mrs Briffaut praised hospital staff and people who have donated to a crowdfunding page which has raised about £72,000 to help pay for his care when he returns home. | |
| But she said she could not understand how her son could injure himself on a water slide. | But she said she could not understand how her son could injure himself on a water slide. |
| "We want to know why and how it happened," she added. | "We want to know why and how it happened," she added. |
| Aqualandia said it was "very sad", but added: "The park is not responsible for the accident." | Aqualandia said it was "very sad", but added: "The park is not responsible for the accident." |
| Mrs Briffaut said her son could be "quite stubborn" and added: "He is going to need to be because of what lies ahead." | Mrs Briffaut said her son could be "quite stubborn" and added: "He is going to need to be because of what lies ahead." |
| "My focus is on David, in getting him home and getting him the best care I can," she said. | "My focus is on David, in getting him home and getting him the best care I can," she said. |
| "We need to be there for him and will be there to support him every step of the way." | "We need to be there for him and will be there to support him every step of the way." |