Dr Kathleen Feest suffered the injury during a boat trip from Cardiff Bay to the Bristol Channel
‘Serious spinal injury’
But Dr Feest suffered a “serious spinal injury” during the hour-long trip and she is now suing her employers at the time, the South West Strategic Health Authority.
For its part, the health authority is pointing the finger of blame at the owners and operators of the Celtic Pioneer, Bay Island Voyages.
The firm denies that any injuries suffered by Dr Feest were caused by the carrier, its employees or agents.
And it also argued that, under international laws covering carriage of passengers by sea, the health authority’s claim had in any even been brought too late.
That argument at first succeeded, but three judges at London’s Appeal Court have now ruled in the health authority’s favour on that issue.
Lord Justices Tomlinson, Laws and Kitchin ruled that the health authority is entitled to seek a contribution from Bay Island Voyages to any damages it may be ordered to pay Dr Feest.
Source: Doctor injured in boating accident claiming damages from NHS