Rugby player sues heavier opponent for £10 million after becoming paralysed following belly flop
A rugby player has successfully sued a much bigger opponent who left her paralysed after a brutal challenge in a a game.
Dani Czernuszka's Bracknell Ladies and Natasha King's side Redingensians RFC met in a big clash in Berkshire back in 2017.
A court heard that King, the heavier opponent, committed an act of 'revenge' in the match after a previous altercation earlier on.
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Ms King is said to have come off worse in that tackle and the court heard how she angrily said, "That f**king number seven, I’m going to break her."
As per the High Court hearing, Ms Czernuszka was crouching down and waiting for the ball when Ms King saw the red mist descend.
She then took hold of her thigh and performed a "belly flop" type manoeuvre, exerting "her full weight downwards onto the head and back of the claimant".
With the full weight pressed down, Ms Czernuszka's spine was shattered and she needed a wheelchair as a result.
Representing her, Robert Weir KC said: "The claimant was thereby pinned in a bent over position by the actions of the first defendant.
"She sustained an immediate severe spinal fracture and spinal cord injury as a direct result of this tackle."
He said Ms King didn't intend to cause severe injury but was "reckless". Ms King's lawyer barrister Geoffrey Brown argued that it wasn't her fault and happened due to the risks of a physical, contact sport.
Ms Czernuszka sued for £10 million and the judge ruled in her favour after branding the actions "obviously dangerous and liable to cause injury".
"I have no doubt that the defendant did, as the claimant said, utter the words, 'That f**king number 7, I’m going to break her'," the judge said.
"Thereafter, she was looking for an opportunity to get her revenge on the claimant, the red mist had metaphorically descended over the defendant’s eyes.
"That opportunity came about three minutes later when, after a ruck, the claimant took up the position of acting scrum-half, and bent down to pick up the ball.
"She drove the claimant backwards and, importantly, downwards using her full weight and strength to crush the claimant in a manoeuvre which was obviously dangerous and liable to cause injury.
"I therefore find that in this very unusual and exceptional context...the defendant is liable to the claimant for the injuries which the claimant sustained, and there shall be judgment for the claimant."
Topics: Rugby
Josh Lawless