A construction worker who was left with permanent physical injuries after falling three storeys from a building has been awarded £900,000 compensation.
Kyle Hunt, 37, broke his back, ankles and wrists in 2017 after falling from the third floor of a building he was working on.
The clamps Kyle was attached to slid off a gap in a steel beam in 2017 causing him to fall.
As a result he suffered a fractured spine as well as broken ankles and wrists and said he still feels the physical and psychological effects of his injuries.
Describing the accident which took place on Bank Street in Canary Wharf, London, Kyle revealed: “I was asked to remove safety nets, so I was wearing full equipment and used three beam gliders to move along the steel.
“Many rope access technicians would only use two, but I wanted a third for added security.
“I had travelled across seven beams when two gliders came away from the steel. The third then followed and I was hanging by my hands.
“As I was carrying additional equipment, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold on. All I could do was brace myself for the fall.”
Following the fall, Kyle, from Derry, underwent several operations at Royal London Hospital, according to a Belfast Live report.
The Irishman was then transferred home to Derry where he was cared for by his parents.
Due to the nerve damage, Kyle was left in considerable pain - and the travel from London took 15 hours by road and ferry.
“I was bed-bound and reliant on my mum and dad for everything. I was still in incredible pain and couldn’t even feed myself. It was a very difficult time,” Kyle said in an interview with My London.
“As the months went by, I realised that I was facing a long recovery and would need support for months and years to come. This made me suffer from an incredibly low mood.”
Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell were instructed to investigate the fall, eventually winning him a £900,000 settlement.
“This is a truly devastating case that clearly highlights the lasting consequences that accidents at work can have,” said Natasha Fairs, the expert workplace injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Kyle.
“Four years on from the incident Kyle continues to suffer from the physical and psychological toll of his injuries.
“While nothing will ever change what has happened, we’re pleased to have secured Kyle his settlement which will ensure that he can access vital rehabilitation to help him move forward with his life.
“However, we would also urge employers in the construction industry to learn lessons from these types of cases. The safety of workers must always come first in any given situation.”
Kyle moved back to London in 2019. Although he still suffers from pain in his wrists, spine and feet, he has been able to do odd jobs around the house.
“The past few years have undoubtedly been the most difficult of my life and I still struggle in many ways,” he said.
“I genuinely loved my work, but at this point, it is hard to see how I could return to meaningful employment.
“There have been many tough times, but this settlement is very welcomed. Knowing that I will be able to continue to access vital support is a huge weight off my shoulders and I just want to continue getting better for myself and my family.”
