£23,000 in damages for broken ankle

A prison officer who had to give up his job after he broke his ankle when he slipped whilst attempting to break up a fight between prisoners has received £23,000 in compensation. He was breaking up a fight between two offenders when he slipped on water which had accumulated on the floor from a nearby shower room. The prisoners were restrained whilst he was left in agony on the floor. He suffered a break in his right ankle which needed surgery to insert a metal plate. Three years after the accident he needed another operation to remove the metal work which was aggravating his ankle and causing him pain. He was never able to return to his work at the prison and was medically retired. His lawyer argued that a door should have been fitted to the shower room to prevent water accumulating on the floor nearby. The Prison Service admitted liability and settled the claim out of court for £23,000.