A PROMISING RAF cadet who suffered massive brain damage during treatment at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary has been awarded compensation of £4.4 million pounds.

Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust admitted liability but contested the level of damages, with the pilot's family originally claiming £6.7 million.

Christopher Lynham, 27, suffered cardiac arrest and there was no regular output from his heart for 12 to 15 minutes during surgery following a road crash, which caused head and abdominal injuries, in May 1998.

Mr Lynham, now living in Bletchley, Bucks, will require 24-hour care for the rest of his life and is shortly to move to Southampton, closer to his brother, Adrian.

Prior to his accident, he had graduated from Oxford University with a first class degree in earth sciences.

He won the sword of honour as best cadet in his year at Cranwell and was accepted for training on high-speed jets.

Mr Justice Garland, who heard the case at the High Court in London earlier this week, said Mr Lynham would have had a 95 per cent chance of making a complete recovery had he received appropriate treatment.

He described Mr Lynham as a: "Superb man with above average potential as an officer and a pilot."