Rugby, illegally tackled remains paralyzed from the waist down: record compensation
A British female amateur rugby player who was paralyzed for life following an illegal tackle during a match was awarded more than £10m ($12m) in damages by the High Court on Thursday. Dani Czernuszka34, a Reading Sirens player, was paralyzed from the waist down after in the championship match against Bracknell Ladies in October 2017, opponent Natasha King put all her weight on her head and back while she was bent over waiting to receive the ball.
"Dangerous and Illegal Tackle"
The judge ruled that King was responsible for the serious spinal injuries Czernuszka sustained as a result of the "dangerous" and "illegal" tackle, a verdict that sets a precedent for sports injury claims. "I am grateful for today's ruling and for finally putting to rest all the lies and falsifications about what happened that day during the match," Czernuszka said in a statement released by his lawyers. "Sport has always given me great satisfaction in life and I don't blame the game of rugby for what happened that day. Ultimately, I feel I was let down by bad behavior from the opposing player, the coaching staff and the referee".
"I hope I can use my injury and the outcome of today's trial to raise awareness of the dangerous lines that should not be crossed when playing sport, regardless of level," added Czernuszka, who now plays hockey on ice for the Great Britain Paralympic team.
