Man in his 40s left with lower-body paralysis after banana boat accident in Gapyeong

A man in his 40s was rushed to a hospital with lower-body paralysis after suffering a neck injury while riding a banana boat in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province.

According to fire department authorities, the man was at a water leisure facility in Gapyeong-eup, Gapyeong-gun, when he began showing symptoms of lower-body paralysis around 2:17 p.m. Sunday and was transported to a hospital.

He had been riding a banana boat when an impact caused his neck to snap backward, fire department officials said.

After the accident, he showed signs of lower-body paralysis along with numbness in his arms and legs and was taken to a hospital by emergency responders.

Police and fire department authorities are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident, questioning staff at the water leisure facility and others involved.