A policeman who sued the fire and rescue service for £20,000 after he tripped over a cable securing a crashed bus has dropped the civil action.
Constable Scott Haig attended the scene of the emergency two miles south of Dalwhinnie on the A9 Inverness-Perth road on April 16, 2010.
The bus with 33 elderly holidaymakers on board left the road and flipped on to its side at the top of an embankment. Highland and Islands Fire and Rescue Service had to cut free some of the passengers, and the bus had been secured by a steel cable. However, before they could do so, Highland and Islands Fire and Rescue Service (HIFRS) attached a steel cable to the vehicle to prevent it falling farther and causing more casualties. A total of 14 people were injured.
Constable Haig, in his action against HIFRS, said he made his way down the embankment to help the fireman and ambulance crews and fell over the cable and tumbled down the embankment, badly injuring his shoulder.
He was off work for months and eventually required surgery on his right shoulder, which still gives him pain.
The constable sued HIFRS for £20,000 for loss of earnings and injury compensation, claiming the service had not taken reasonable precautions to prevent him from injuring himself on the cable.
The fire service counterclaimed, saying it was his own fault. Yesterday, however, before a proof was to be held at the civil court in Inverness, Constable Haig dropped his claim and Sheriff Andrew Miller granted a request by lawyers to absolve HIFRS of any blame.
Neither side was prepared to comment afterwards.
In papers lodged with the court, Constable Haig claimed the firemen had not told him that the cable was there and there were no warning signs. He added that a tarpaulin was laid over the cable after his accident.
Constable Haig was signed off work and was prescribed painkillers for months afterwards. Ultra-sound treatment was administered in May 2010 but he had to have surgery a year later as the shoulder had not recovered.
In the court papers, Constable Haig said he was unable to work for a long period, and required assistance to do general domestic chores, shopping and gardening.
He also said he had paid £1,800 for treatment at the police rehabilitation centre in Auchterarder.
HIFRS said it had not been necessary for the constable to have gone down the embankment as fire and ambulance crews were dealing with the injured.