Six-Year-Old Lily Wins £95,000 After Café Table Accident
A six-year-old girl, Lily Wunderwald, has been awarded £95,000 in damages after a café table fell on her at a Sydney leisure centre. The accident left Lily with a severe head injury and lasting scars. Randwick City Council, which runs the facility, was found liable for failing to prevent the incident. The incident happened on 31 January 2020 at the Des Renford Leisure Centre in Maroubra. Lily suffered a 12cm gash on her forehead, exposing her skull and leaving a permanent scar. Her mother, Sara Wunderwald, later told the court that the injury had changed Lily’s personality and affected her schoolwork. The council initially denied responsibility, arguing that the table was stable and the accident was unpredictable. However, Judge Greg Waugh SC ruled that the risk of harm was both foreseeable and 'not insignificant'. He dismissed the council’s claims and ordered it to pay Lily $175,300 in compensation. Medical experts, including plastic surgeon Dr. Michael J McGlynn, described Lily’s scar as causing 'disfigurement'. They estimated that future corrective surgery could cost around $8,000. The judge’s decision also recognised the psychological impact of the scarring on the young Lily. Randwick City Council must now pay the damages awarded to Lily. The ruling confirms that the leisure centre failed to address a known safety risk. The compensation covers both her physical injuries and the long-term effects of the accident.
