Thursday, 28 March, 2024
HomeMedico-LegalMatriculant left quadriplegic after rugby injury wins claim 14 years later

Matriculant left quadriplegic after rugby injury wins claim 14 years later

The Gauteng High Court has ruled that a then 18-year-old matriculant left a paraplegic after he was carried off the rugby field without a neck brace or stretcher 14 years ago, is entitled to damages.

According to a Pretoria News report, the matter involved a then 18-year-old matriculant left a paraplegic after he was carried off the field without a neck brace or stretcher.

Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) Acting Judge SA Thobane ruled that the North West Education Department, as well as the Leopards Rugby Union and Kosh Sports and Trauma Services, were liable to pay Izak Foster 100% of the multimillion-rand damages he could prove he had suffered.

The judge found that the two medics who carried Foster from the field after he had suffered an injury were negligent to do so without proper support. They simply carried him off with their hands, despite Foster's pleas to leave him on the ground until they obtained a stretcher or something to support his back. The rugby match took place in May 2006 and was hosted by a school in Potchefstroom.

It emerged during the trial that one of the first aid attendants who carried Foster off the field was not registered with the SA Health Professions Council, as he should have been. The judge said the medics’ actions either contributed to or caused the harm.

 

[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/bitter-sweet-victory-for-paraplegic-injured-in-rugby-game-14-years-ago-16870419-4b55-451f-9a47-338dd8036c6e"]Full Pretoria News report[/link]

 

[link url="https://email.mweb.co.za/service/home/~/?auth=co&loc=en_US&id=90123&part=2.15"]Judgment[/link]

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