Lawyers Secure Four-Figure Settlement After Volunteer Chaperone Suffers Broken Leg

A Rotherham man seriously injured on a ski holiday in Italy has revealed how he can “finally move forward” with his life after lawyers secured him a settlement.

Alex Doyle was one of six volunteer chaperones supervising 43 students on a ski package school trip to the Courmayeur resort.

On arrival, the party were provided with hired ski equipment. Alex, not an inexperienced skier, asked staff about the release settings on his ski bindings, which were set at eight, as the value had been lower on previous trips. He was, however, reassured it was correct.

Ski trip chaperone sustains leg fracture

During te first day of ski school, Alex was skiing with a group of eight students all led by an instructor.  He was on a blue run but fell when he tried to stop. His left ski failed to release from its bindings and Alex sustained a fracture to his left shinbone.

He underwent surgery and required further treatment due to repeated wound infections. Alex, a senior system support worker, was off work for approximately six months.

Following the incident, in February 2018, Alex, 28, instructed expert international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him access the specialist therapies and rehabilitation he requires to maximise his recovery.

International serious injury lawyers secure four-figure settlement

Following legal submissions, Irwin Mitchell secured a substantial four-figure settlement from the ski school. It denied liability.  The funds will cover Alex’s loss of earnings and the cost of any future treatment he may require.

Expert Opinion

“Alex continues to be impacted by the injuries he suffered on the ski trip, both mentally and physically.

“He underwent surgery but his recovery was delayed due to the need for subsequent treatment. He’s also been provided with psychological support.

“We’re therefore pleased to have secured Alex this settlement which will ensure he can access any future rehabilitation and therapies he requires.

“While nothing will change what he’s been through, we hope that Alex can now focus on moving on with life and look to the future without uncertainty.” Jayne Murphy, International Serious Injury lawyer

Alex's story

Alex travelled to Italy with the students and fellow chaperones on 4 February 2018.

He sustained the injury to his leg on the group’s first morning at the resort when skiing on the Checrouit slope.

Alex sustained a fracture to the left tibia initially requiring assistance from the rescue team. He was later transferred to hospital in Italy where it the medical team decided that Alex would need surgery. A day or so later, Alex was repatriated back to the UK where he had surgery to fit an Ilizarov frame around his leg to stabilise the fracture which he had on for around four months.

More than five years on, Alex continues to feel irritation and pain in his leg but has worked hard to re-establish his fitness regime after feeling limited in what he could do for a period of time and gaining weight during his recovery. Alex is also building up the confidence to go back to skiing as it was something he enjoyed.

He said: “Even though time has passed, I still remember that day like it was yesterday.  I asked staff about the settings on my skis as I didn’t think they were right but I was told they were so I trusted them.

“As soon as I tried to stop on the slope, I knew something was wrong as I couldn’t feel my leg being released from the ski.  I then found out I had fractured my leg.

“I was devastated, as it not only put an end to my trip, I was stuck in another country with a serious injury.

“To this day, I’m still affected by what happened.  It’s been a very difficult period in my life, full of stress and worry.  Thankfully now, however, due to the amazing support and care I’ve had, I can finally begin to move forward.”

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling international serious injury cases