Injury compensation news

Cadet could receive accident at work compensation

An Army recruit who suffered a serious head injury after his drill sergeant hurled a baton could receive £500,000 in injury compensation.

Dominic Christopher-Baskeyfield, 18, has said that he would turn down the accident at work compensation if it meant that he could go to Iraq and fight for his country.

Dominic suffered a severe personal injury during a training exercise after he accidentally turned left instead of right. His Drill Sergeant, Adrian Lines, became so enraged that he threw a three-foot drill stick at Dominic.

The brass-tipped baton pierced Dominic's head and the young recruit spent six days in a coma and another two months in hospital recovering from his personal injury.

Dominic claims that when he fell to the ground, his drill sergeant did nothing to help him.

He said, "The sergeant did nothing after he hit me. He ignored me. He saw me hit the floor. I went down on the ground on my hands and knees but he walked off.

"I am determined to get fit again. I can't even kick a football now."

Despite suffering such head injuries, Dominic has the strong belief that he is still capable of working in the Army and will not require the £500,000 in accident at work compensation.

Dominic said, "I have been told I will get £500,000 compensation if I have to leave the Army. But I don't want to be paid off as an invalid - I want to serve my country. I love the Army life, and I love the infantry. It's the only thing I ever wanted to do."