COVID Lawsuit: Manager Loses Leg Over Infected Boss

A former railway station manager, David Gibson, is pursuing a £1 million lawsuit against Southeastern Railways, claiming he contracted Covid-19 from his area manager. Gibson alleges that his boss, Danny Hackett, attended work in July 2021 while symptomatic, failing to wear a mask and exhibiting visible signs of illness, including coughing. Gibson contends that this exposure led to a severe Covid-19 infection, resulting in pneumonia, an induced coma, and ultimately the amputation of his leg below the knee due to blood clots.

Gibson, who had worked for Southeastern since 2018, asserts that he took significant precautions to avoid infection, including wearing a mask and maintaining social distance. He claims he felt obligated to attend a meeting in his manager's office, where more than the recommended number of people were present without masks. Following this encounter and a subsequent breakfast where the manager continued to display symptoms, Gibson fell ill and tested positive for Covid-19.

Southeastern Railways denies all claims, arguing that Mr. Hackett did not have symptoms they would associate with Covid-19 prior to testing positive. The company maintains they had adequate risk assessments and safety policies in place, and suggests that if Gibson contracted the virus at work, it was due to his own negligence, such as attending the meeting and breakfast. Gibson's employment was terminated on health grounds in March 2023, and the case is proceeding to trial unless a settlement is reached.