‘I will never ride a go-kart again’: man’s team-building day ends in hospital

A COMPANY team-building event turned to disaster when a Verulam father was thrown from a go-kart, leaving him completely immobilised after he suffered severe spinal injuries.

- MONISHKA GOVENDER [e-mail]

Yastil Rugunanan

Yastil Rugunanan, 27, an operational manager at a call centre, said while he was lucky to be alive, he faced an uncertain future as doctors decided whether he would require surgery to his damaged spine.

He said his company’s team-building event on Friday was meant to be a lighthearted day with senior managers, and started with go-karting at Wicked Karting in Cornubia Mall.

They were then meant to go for lunch, drinks and exchange festive gifts at a local restaurant.

Rugunanan said the day did not go as planned when tragedy struck in the final race.

“While the race was on for a final winner, I bumped into a colleague with my kart.

“Normally when you bump into someone the car stops and you press on the fuel pedal and drive off again. In this instance, I was thrown out of the go-kart. I literally flew out of the go-kart. I was airborne until I landed on my back.”

Rugunanan said he assumed there would be a seatbelt in the kart, but “in fact there was no seat belt”.

He said the impact left him unable to move, and he lay on the track in excruciating pain waiting for emergency responders.

“I felt like my entire world was coming to an end just lying on the ground waiting for the paramedics to arrive. Something that was meant to be joyful ended up being so tragic. This incident could cause me never to walk again.

“I have two young kids and a stay-at-home wife. We still have a future which we want to live to the fullest,” he said.