A MAN left permanently paralysed after he fell from a hotel balcony in Crete five years ago has been awarded more than £1 million compensation.

Accrington and Rossendale College student Paul Foster, 25, of Poulton Avenue, Accrington, was left permanently paralysed and wheelchair bound after his 30 foot plunge on the holiday island in 1993.

Yesterday he won a judgment against package tour operator Olympic Holidays in the High Court in Manchester.

Lawyers agreed a compromise settlement on liability for the accident, when Paul sustained severe injuries including a broken neck.

His counsel, Michael Redfern QC, told Mr Justice Poole there were third party proceedings between the tour operator and the Greek hoteliers.

The precise figure of damages will be determined after more talks between lawyers. Judgment was given against the hoteliers who must now reimburse the tour operator.

It was alleged the balcony wall was well below the near waist height demanded by British standards.

After the hearing, Paul's uncle, Father David Foster, the parish priest at St Peter's RC Church, Mill Hill, Blackburn, said there was both relief and delight among family members about the decision. He added: "There was great relief in the family and it is now a case of waiting to see how much Paul will get in real terms.

"There will be a lot of people who think the news is wonderful and Paul deserves this a great deal."

Paul's solicitor, personal injury specialist High Potter, said later his client had no memory of the early morning 25ft-30ft fall when he overbalanced. There were no witnesses.

"Holidaymakers injured abroad can sue their tour operator when injury results from foreign non-compliance with British standards," he said.

"This case is important, underlining that our standards in regard to walls and swimming pool design have been 'exported' to popular foreign resorts".

Mr Potter said Paul was "delighted" with the settlement at 70-30 in his favour. The final award would "substantially exceed £1 million" reflecting his future needs.

Paul has battled against his disability since his accident. He continued his studies at Accrington and Rossendale College to become an engineer.

An extension was built at his home to help him with his studies and he went on to complete a college HND course.

Paul's uncle and his parishioners helped raise funds for the £25,000 operation to fit Paul with a "bionic" arm.

Paul was chosen by doctors as the first person to have the "Free Hand System" operation because doctors were so impressed with his positive attitude.

The treatment involves attaching electrodes to the muscles in one of his arms, collected to an electronic transmitter near his collar bone but a recent operation on Paul's stomach has meant the pioneering surgery has had to be postponed. Holiday

horror £1m AWARD

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