A Telford man has been awarded nearly £1 million in compensation, almost two years after his leg was amputated following an horrific accident at work.
Father-of-five Matthew Watton had to be cut free by firefighters using diggers and had part of his left leg amputated at the scene after a 30-tonne tipper truck toppled on to its side, trapping him against a pile of rubble on a Shifnal construction site in May 2005.
Mr Watton, of Dawley, also suffered head and internal injuries.
The day after the accident he vowed from his hospital bed to continue coaching budding footballers, a promise he has managed to keep despite his disability.
Mr Watton, 40, said he had been a keen sportsman before the accident and that an “excellent” prosthesis had allowed him to take up a football coaching position at his former school, Langley St Leonards School in Dawley. He also hopes to start working with disabled and disadvantaged children.
“I refused to allow my injuries to stop me from leading a full and active life,” he said. “If I can act as a role model for others I am delighted.
“I would like to thank Neil Lorimer at Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors. Using his expertise he secured me the financial support I needed during my recovery, which enabled me to buy a suitably adapted vehicle and a state-of-the-art prosthesis.
“The speed of the final settlement is in no small amount due to his hard work and genuine passion to help.
“I get enormous satisfaction in seeing children enjoy sport and am hoping to work with disabled and disadvantaged children.”
Mr Lorimer, partner and personal injury specialist at Lanyon Bowdler, said the accident had been a “terrible ordeal” for Mr Watton and added: “We hope that the money will help to secure Mr Watton and his family’s future and also go someway to compensate him for his terrible ordeal.
“The truck owner’s insurance company accepted that the accident had been caused through negligence and breaches of health and safety law.”
By Deborah Collins
One Comment
good luck mattew