Woman sues Tate Modern over slide injury

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Charity worker Kate Phillips is suing the gallery after breaking her hand on the exhibit last year.

Ms Phillips, from Glasgow, said she broke bones in her hand and needed seven stitches after sliding down a helter-skelter designed by Belgian artist Carsten Holler, currently one of the museum's star attractions.

Ms Phillips said: "I am claiming for the loss of facility of my right hand...it's been a real problem. I couldn't type, write or drive for two months.

I travel extensively with work but I couldn't even carry a suitcase. Only now, three months on, am I starting to get back to normal."

The slides have attracted more than 500,000 visitors since they opened in October and the gallery confirmed there had been five reported injuries.

Ms Phillips said: "I'm still having physiotherapy. It's sore and sometimes keeps me awake at night. I've not got the strength back yet. I'm sure my hand will never be the same again."

Holler has claimed that his slides, the biggest of which spans five storeys and is 180 feet high, are a fusion of art and architecture which could be used to combat stress and depression.

A gallery spokeswoman said Tate Modern had done all it could to ensure the safety of the slides. She said the gallery provided users with instruction leaflets, signs, guidance-from staff and protective clothing.

"Our advice has been approved following a full inspection by the local health and safety department of Southwark council. All of these injuries have been caused by visitors who have not followed the instructions for using the slides."

However, in the early days of the exhibit, the gallery was forced to install extra rubber mats after the slides' first users reportedly emerged with friction burns.