Shelby Clarke was just 14 years old when a visit to an amusement park ended in an accident that would change her life.
In October 2009, the British teenager was playing with a friend at an interactive fountain at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England, when a powerful jet of water struck her directly between the legs and knocked her down.
The injuries were so serious that she needed two hours of surgery and 250 stitches, both internal and external. A specialist even suspected that the injuries might have been caused by some kind of violence, given how severe they were.
Years later, Shelby said that the accident had had a significant impact on her intimate life and that doctors still could not tell her whether she would be able to have children naturally.
After taking legal action against the park, she received compensation equivalent to more than 13.000 dollars, although the exact amount was not disclosed. The money was also intended to cover possible future medical treatments.
In 2015, when she was 19 years old, she decided to share her story to warn people about the dangers of these attractions. The park said it had strengthened its safety measures to prevent further accidents.