A legal action against the MOD has begun after an aircraftsman was paralysed while taking part in a fun day organised at RAF High Wycombe.

Robert Uren who was 24 at the time, was taking part in a relay race during an “It’s a Knock-out” style event in July 2005. The participating teams had to run 45 ft to collect plastic toys from the bottom of an inflatable pool.

Mr Uren claims that the contestants were “encouraged” to dive in to the pool by the organisers of the event Corporate Leisure (UK) and as he did so he was forced to take evasive action to avoid other participants who were already in the pool.

This caused him to slip, catch his legs on the side of the pool and as he fell, to strike his head on the bottom of the shallow pool.

His spine was fractured in three places and his spinal cord damaged as a result of the accident and Mr Uren is now paralysed from the waist down with only slight movement to his arms. He will remain

permanently wheelchair dependent.

Following the accident, and as a result of his injuries, Mr Uren was medically discharged from the Air Force.

In the action Corporate Leisuure and the MOD are accused of alleged failures to ensure that the game was safe for participants.

Lawyers acting for the MOD claim that they had carried out a comprehensive risk assessment before the “fun day” and had taken care to choose a reputable independent contractor to organise the event.

The hearing continues