The plaintiff was seriously injured due to an explosion in 2011 at the Naval Base Evangelos Florakis, Cyprus which was adjacent to the Vasilikos Power Station, where he was working as a Special Police Officer.

Χ.Χ ν. ΓΕΝΙΚΟΥ ΕΙΣΑΓΓΕΛΕΑ ΤΗΣ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑΣ (2020)

Case number at District Court: 4118/2012

Date of decision: 22.12.2020

Type of accident: Explosion at the Naval Base Evangelos Florakis.

Attribution of liability: Τhe Republic of Cyprus took full responsibility.

Age of injured person: 28 years old.      

Diagnosis: Spleen, skull, temporal bone, facial bone fractures with small epidural hematoma, injuries to both eyes, retinal damage, multiple fractures of 2-5 metacarpals of the left hand, abnormal soft tissue and skin injuries, thermal burns on the face-chest-upper extremities and in the lower area 30% of the body surface up to 3rd degree burn, wide and deep necrosis of the left upper extremity-arm respectively with the biceps-triceps and brachiocephalic, loss of skin of the right temporal lobe of the left forearm and right quadriceps, acute auditory trauma.

Injury symptoms: Hemorrhagic shock, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, severe nosocomial infection, inability to extend left wrist, fingers and thumb abduction, major depression, instability, tinnitus and hearing loss.

Improvement: Regarding the eye injuries no further improvement is expected but the plaintiff will be forced to undergo further treatments in the future. In addition he will be forced to receive vaccines as he has become vulnerable to viruses due to splenectomy and will be in need of help from others for the rest of his life.

Surgeries: Splenectomy, laparotomy, stabilization of the left metacarpal of the left hand with K. Wires and their removal, skin transplants of the upper arm and forearm, tracheostomy, removal of the left eye and placement of an additive eye, removal of the right lens of the eye and total vitrectomy to remove foreign bodies on four occasions, transfer of the left rhomboid muscle with its vessels to cover the arm deficit, two corneal transplants and repositioning of new silicone in the right eye, removal of glass fragments from the skin of the face, multiple tendon transfers in the left upper extremity.

Treatment: The injured person was intubated in the ICU of the General Hospital of Nicosia for 1 month from the day of the accident. As mentioned above, he underwent various surgeries accompanied by a long recovery period with physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychiatric support at specialized centres in Cyprus and Israel. In addition, there will be a need for vaccination coverage for the rest of his life due to the splenectomy.

Permanent residues: Very limited vision/blindness: left eye has been removed and right eye is limited to finger counting, has multiple retinal scars, silicone and corneal implant, aphakia, risk of retinal detachment, risk of glaucoma and rejection of the corneal implant which indicate no expected improvement but further future treatments. Replacement of the additional eye every 8-10 years for the rest of his life, continuous eye care for protection against infections, tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, small and large scars on the face and all over the body from burns, surgeries and glass fragments, hypertrophy and bumps on the body, glass fragments under the skin of the face, limited movement and muscle weakness in the upper extremities, neuropathy of the radius nerve with blow of the left axis, permanent incapability to work.

Analysis of legal matter on:  the claim for employment of a second specialised nurse assistant which was rejected.

Analysis of legal matter on:  the multiplier for future loss.

Analysis of legal matter on:  the pain and suffering and especially the blindness.

Special damages: Agreed €12,483 as expenses, €66,000 loss of allowances, €26,000 loss of earnings. Total €104,483.

Loss of future earnings: The injured person at the time of the accident was 28 years old and at the time of the court ruling he was 37 years old. His employment was terminated when he was 35 years old and he would retire at the age of 63. Therefore, the multiplicand of €27,000 was agreed and the court set the multiplier at 17 years and awarded the amount of €459,000.

Future costs: Under an agreement of the Council of Ministers the sum of €12,000 paid annually and granted by the Council of Ministers to cover assistant caretaker expenses with an increase of 3% every 5 years.

General damages: €1.000.000 for pain and suffering and loss of joy of life.

It must be noted that in addition to the above amounts awarded by the Honourable Court, the injured party additionally received the sum of €948.00 as a disabled pension and the sum of €342.00 as a fund for blindness.