A disabled darts player has lost a compensation claim exceeding £1 million after a judge ruled that his leg amputation was unnecessary on clinical grounds. Aaron Haley, who competes professionally as Aaron 'The Rattler' Haley, suffered a severe crushing injury to his foot in March 2019 when he was hit by a forklift while working for Newcold Ltd, a cold storage company based in Wakefield.
Mr Haley's former employer had initially agreed to pay compensation for the injury. However, his potential payout escalated from around £500,000 to over £1 million after he underwent surgery in 2024 to have his leg removed below the knee. Newcold Ltd challenged the increased claim, arguing that the amputation was unnecessary and presenting secretly filmed footage showing Mr Haley walking “normally” before the operation.
Judge Darren Walsh ruled that Mr Haley cannot be compensated for the amputation as it was “unnecessary on clinical grounds” and his own choice. The judge noted that despite being secretly filmed several times, Mr Haley was only seen using a crutch on the day he was due to see a doctor relating to his damages claim, and even then he held it in the wrong hand at times. The court heard that the question of why Mr Haley underwent the procedure remains a mystery.
Mr Haley claimed the amputation was necessary due to “unbearable” pain and restrictions in his social and work life, but the judge accepted that the motivation was not pain or function. Mr Haley is still entitled to damages for his initial injury, which his lawyers claim should be around £500,000 after a reduction for his own part in the accident.
