Darts Pro's £1M Amputation Claim Rejected After Surveillance Footage Shows Normal Mobility

In a surprising turn of events, a disabled darts player's £1 million compensation claim for a leg amputation has been dismissed by a judge. Aaron 'The Rattler' Haley, who suffered a severe foot injury in a 2019 forklift accident, had his potential payout escalate from £500,000 to over £1 million after undergoing an amputation in 2024.

However, Haley's former employer, Newcold Ltd, challenged the increased claim, arguing the amputation was unnecessary as surveillance footage showed Haley walking "normally" before the surgery. The judge agreed, ruling that Haley's condition had improved to the point where he was "effectively functioning normally" in the months leading up to the amputation.

The court also heard that Haley had continued to engage in physical activities like Airsoft, bowling, and darts in the weeks before the surgery, which the judge found "unusual" for someone requiring an amputation. Ultimately, the judge determined that Haley's decision to have his leg removed was "deliberate" and not an involuntary consequence of his initial injury, breaking the chain of causation.

As a result, Haley will not receive the £1 million-plus payout he had sought, but he is still entitled to damages for his original foot injury, which his lawyers had estimated to be around £500,000 before a reduction for his own contributory negligence.