Cyclist awarded record £14 million for brain injury
September 27, 2010
Posted by:Jo Chapman
Former Commonwealth Games cyclist, Manny Helmot, 39, was awarded just under £14 million after he suffered brain damage following a car crash in Guernsey in November 1998.
Earlier that year, Mr Helmot had represented the Channel Island at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games at the age of 28 but was in hospital for 36 weeks after the head-on collision, which reduced his life expectancy by five years, took away the use of his right arm and left him with partial vision.
Mr Hemlot’s mother and her partner, who now provide him with 24 hour care, appealed after being awarded £9 million in January, saying it wasn’t enough to cover his life-long medical costs. The Guernsey Court of Appeal have subsequently increased it to just under £14 million, although the final amount is still to be determined.
The award will be paid as a lump sum, rather than partly in the form of periodical payments, as would probably have been the case in England and Wales.