Nurse to sue balloon makers after explosion leaves her blind for days

A NURSE left blind for days after a party balloon exploded in her face has said she will sue the manufacturers.

Alison Fox also warned parents to make sure children take care around the product, which she said left her with a painful eye injury.

The 60-year-old bought some novelty illuminated balloons from a Sainsbury's supermarket in Aberdeen to celebrate her husband Campbell's 60th birthday.

Mr Fox, a retired software chief executive, and their guests had just sat down at the dinner table at their home in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, when the balloon exploded.

Mrs Fox claims its battery-operated light fitting flew into her eye when the balloon popped as it was being inflated.

She was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary's accident and emergency department where she spent several hours.

She said she was blinded for days following the incident, which she said left her with an abrasion on her cornea, a shaken retina and extensive swelling to her eye.

The mother of three was prescribed steroid eye drops and a follow-up examination weeks later showed she still had problems focusing and her pupil was enlarged.

She said she still suffered headaches and had blurred vision and pain for a month after the accident, which happened in November 2010.

Mrs Fox, who now lives in Argyllshire, said: "I am worried these balloons would be used for a children's party and a child could be badly hurt.

"I am more concerned about making people aware of the dangers than I am about the compensation."

Seatriever International, the manufacturer of the balloons, said it was investigating the incident.

The company added that the balloons meet "all concerned safety standards, including toy safety certifications with regards to the manufacture of all of our products".

Sue Rose, a spokeswoman for the company, said the firm's products were safe.

She added: "Product safety, along with customer service is of paramount importance to us and we will always investigate any issue or concern brought to our attention."

Elaine Russell, a personal injury partner from the law firm Irwin Mitchell, said the likelihood of such an incident happening again was "pretty high".

She said: "It may seem like a freak incident, but balloons pop all the time - especially at children's parties - so the likelihood of this happening again must be pretty high, and potentially to someone much younger."

Ms Russell added: "We want to see the manufacturers review the safety of these balloons and for Sainsbury's to consider whether it ought to be stocking them."

Sainsbury's yesterday declined to comment.