Teenager sues private school for $750,000 after slipping over on a wet oval – claiming his injuries had robbed him of a dream career
- Gold Coast teen filed $750,000 suit against former school, St Michael’s College
- Thomas John Harding destroyed his ankle after tripping on school oval in 2015
- Harding claims the severe fracture stopped him from becoming an air force pilot
- It took four surgeries and at least six screws to rebuild Harding’s ankle
A Gold Coast teenager will sue his former school for $750,000 after an injury he sustained on campus grounds robbed him of his dream job, a court heard.
Thomas John Harding, 18, fractured his ankle when he tripped while playing on the flooded oval at the St Michael’s College, in Merrimac, on July 23, 2015.
He filed the suit against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane in the Southport District Court, claiming the injury stopped him from becoming an Australian Air Force pilot.
Doctors performed four surgeries and used at least six screws to rebuild the teenager’s ankle, which he said still causes him pain and discomfort.
Gold Coast teenager Thomas John Harding, 18, is suing his former school, St Michael’s College, in Merrimac, for $750,000 after he tripped and fractured his ankle (pictured) on the campus oval in 2015
Harding also tried to become a mechanic but had to give it up because of the ankle fracture, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
It was further alleged more than 26mm of rain fell in the two days before Harding’s accident, leaving the oval so waterlogged inter-school sport had to be cancelled.
His solicitor, Amanda Gilmour, argued it was the school’s responsibility to make sure her client wasn’t on the oval that day because of the dangerous conditions.
‘Now we have a situation where an 18-year-old boy won’t be able to participate in high levels of physical activity for the rest of his life,’ she said.
‘His employment options are limited and he is forced to manage pain on a daily basis.’
Ms Gilmour said before the injury Harding had been selected for special courses at the Amberley RAAF base as part of his path to becoming an air force pilot.
The former Gold Coast student now works in IT but said his ankle fracture prevents him from being able to perform all the tasks assigned to him.
Ms Gilmour said the severe damage to her client’s ankle would affect him for the rest of his life.
The case will continue before the Southport District Court later this month.
Court documents claim inter-school sport was cancelled the day of Harding’s accident because of heavy rain and solicitor, Amanda Gilmour, argued it was St Michael’s College’s (pictured) responsibility to make sure her client wasn’t on the field