A theatre porter was forced to give up his 14-year career and face the daily risk of developing a fatal blood clot after a workplace accident.

John Beresford, from Nottingham, has to take medication for the rest of his life to avoid a clot, after developing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) from twisting his knee at work.

The 64-year-old, who worked for Nottingham Universities Hospitals NHS Trust, was expected to use an old supermarket trolley to collect gas canisters needed for theatre.

On the day of the accident, a stone got caught under the back wheel, causing it to swerve into the path of an oncoming car.

Mr Beresford tore his left knee trying to steady the trolley and now suffers from long-term knee problems, which have forced him to retire.

John Beresford said:

"This accident has taken everything away from me.

"I have had to give up work and my golf and my family have seen me go through hell.

"I also have to take morphine every day and attend pain management courses, as the risk will be with me for life.

"I am pleased that we won the case, but sad that I will never get my old life back."

Dave Prentis, UNISON's General Secretary, said:

"It is shocking that John Bereford faces daily agony because his employers failed to provide him with safe equipment.

"It is good that UNISON has managed to secure some compensation for him, but it will not make up for the fact that he can never have his old life back.

"Employers need to put safety before shortcuts and put a stop to these easily preventable accidents."

UNISON's solicitors, Thompsons, argued that the Trust should have provided something safer than an old supermarket trolley to transport for the gas canisters.

The Trust finally agreed to settle for a compensation amount - more than 14 times the original offer.

Carol Wild, from Thompsons, said:

"This member has been forced to give up his job and now has to live with a serious health condition for the rest of his life due to an entirely avoidable accident.

"Shockingly, the employers initially thought they could buy off the case for a sum that did not even approach what the courts would recognise as proper compensation."

Source
UNISON