Ex-Navy pilot wins ski injury damages

A Royal Navy helicopter pilot who pulled the Virgin tycoon Richard Branson from the sea after his ill-fated attempt to cross the Atlantic by balloon was yesterday awarded "very substantial" damages for a skiing accident which left him almost totally paralysed.

Trevor Jones, 35, was a member of the Navy skiing team when he was injured practising for the Navy skiing championships in Austria in 1988 - a few months after the sea rescue - because of what he claimed was negligence on the part of the Ministry of Defence in not making sure that a slalom run was safe.

Clive Wilson-Smith QC, representing the former lieutenant, told Mr Justice Collins in the High Court that Mr Jones now needed 24-hour care but his disabilities had not stopped "this very remarkable man" from returning to the sports he loves.

"He has approached his disability with the utmost courage and determination and what he has achieved is truly remarkable.

"He has flown a microlight, sailed a yacht and returned to the ski slope. Flying and sailing was his life and he was an accomplished sportsman both at school and in the Navy and what he has achieved since his accident testifies to his courage."

Mr Wilson-Smith said that he had agreed terms with the Ministry of Defence on a 50-50 basis and asked for the case to be adjourned for the amounts to be worked out.

Mr Jones, who lives in Fulham, south-west London, attended the court hearing using a computerised wheelchair.