A man was severely injured on a waterslide in Blaine on Friday, Aug. 25. Management of the Birch Bay Waterslides in a statement call last Friday’s incident an “unforeseen accident” while fire officials describe it as a life-changing injury. North Whatcom Fire Rescue confirms that a 42-year-old man was severely injured while after an accident on a waterslide, which prompted the park to close for the season a week earlier than scheduled. Mikkel Hong, a teacher and parent was at the park last Friday, describes a “chaotic and gruesome scene.” He said he saw a piece missing from the slide and witnessed commotion soon after. “I noticed the lifeguard started closing down everything – and I look over and there’s a huddle around somebody over by the four slides that go down, where the slide broke – and there’s a lot of blood and a foot that was going the wrong way,” Hong said.