Hero's walk of courage costs him £25k compo

[jrh2002]

Hero's walk of courage costs him £25k compo

Shameful! Insurance giant robs hero Para of payout.


SO MOVING: Dave hobbles on to Wembley pitch without walking stick

By Paul McNamara, 04/04/2010
A HEARTLESS insurance firm has axed a £25,000 payout to crippled war hero Private Dave Tartlock - because he bravely managed to hobble out at Wembley with the Carling Cup.

Millions of TV viewers were touched as they saw the Final's guest of honour courageously cast his walking stick aside and limp on to the pitch carrying the trophy.

But also watching was a stony-faced clerk from Forces' insurers Abacus.

And the hard-hearted penpusher went straight into work next day and STOPPED the Afghanistan casualty's £25,000 claim for compensation for his appalling wounds.


BRAVE: Dave in action in Afghanistan

Last night Dave, 20, from 2 Para, said: "I can't get my head around what they've done. They didn't even have the courtesy to ring me directly about it. I found out from my mum."

Doctors told Dave he could be left paralysed after being hit in the spine by shrapnel when an Apache helicopter mistakenly opened fire on British troops two years ago. But the tough soldier astonished them all by battling back to walk with the aid of a stick. He qualified for compensation so he put in a claim with Abacus for loss of the use of a foot.

"My left one will never have any feeling and needs a splint," said Dave. "My calves don't work but I can hobble with a stick."

The lifelong Man United fan was thrilled when he was chosen to carry the trophy out on to the pitch before his team's final against Aston Villa in February in recognition of his remarkable achievement. Dave, from Gorton, Manchester, said:

"I trained for weeks carrying vases around my house. I managed to carry the trophy that day and didn't fall. I was so proud."


STUNNED: Pte Dave

Then came the Abacus bombshell that they were rejecting his claim. Instead of ringing him direct they called the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey where he was being treated to say he wouldn't be paid because he had been seen walking. The centre then told his mum.

"It's absolutely sickening - I pay £56 a month for this insurance cover," added Dave. "I've been pushing myself to get better and then they do something like this. It's a lot of money for me, but that's not the point. They don't know what I've been through."

Last night a spokesman for soldiers' charity the ABF said: "Someone who has been injured in the line of duty deserves maximum respect rather than the tick-box attitude of a jobsworth."

A spokesman for Abacus - who boast of "friendly, knowledgeable staff" on their website - said: "We are looking into David's case. We have no desire to wriggle out of paying a claim if it is due."


http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news...25k-compo.html

What a disgusting decision They should send the insurance guy out to the front line to assess a few claims. :@

[Jordy]

That is truly sick, I do hope this is resolved as it couldn't send out a worse message atm. The insurance has always baffled and angered me in the armed forces, an RAF Typist got a £500k payout for RSI yet soldiers losing their legs get £100k. It shouldn't matter but it's not even like £25k is a big payout for them...

[dirrty]

eurgh, that's terrible. i hope with a lot of media attention, this will push for the company to reverse their decision.

[Hitman]

Makes me angry. Greedy insurance company...

[xxMATTGxx]

That makes me angry and how dare they stop it. They better switch that back around! :/

[alexxxxx]

it's truly appalling that an insurance company would do such a thing - but that's what insurance companies do, always looking out for themselves. Did he receive much/any money from the military/government?