Afghan vet walks to lose claim

A seriously wounded Afghanistan veteran has had a £25,000 insurance claim blocked by forced insusrer Abacus after an employee saw him limp onto the pitch parading the trophy at the Carling Cup final, the Telegraph reports.

Pte Dave Tatlock, 20, who suffered spinal injuries in a friendly fire incident two years ago, was chosen as the guest of honour at this season's Carling Cup final at Wembley.

The soldier, a lifelong Manchester United fan, who has no feeling in his left foot and cannot move his calves following his injury, managed to hobble onto the pitch without his walking stick to display the trophy to fans before the match.

Can walk, won’t pay

But the day after, Abacus stopped a £25,000 claim because he had been seen walking.

Tatlock, from Manchester, told the News of the World: I can't get my head around what they've done. They didn't even have the courtesy to ring me directly about it. I found out from my mum."

Abacus reportedly contacted the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey, where the soldier was receiving treatment, to say he would not receive his payment because he had been seen walking. The centre then informed his mother.

Minister angry

Pte Tatlock added: "It's absolutely sickening – I pay £56 a month for this insurance cover. I've been pushing myself to get better and then they do something like this. It's a lot of money for me, but that's not the point. They don't know what I've been through."

Kevan Jones, the Minister for Veterans, said: "Treating a brave and injured serviceman in this way is an absolute disgrace. As a matter of urgency I will be asking the company to explain their crass decision."