Man who fell from float wins £600,000

A tuba player who was confined to a wheelchair after falling from a carnival float has reached a £600,000 settlement with insurance firms.

Roy Gill, who is 66, severely injured his back in June 1999 when he was playing with the York Railway Institute Golden Rail Band as part of York's annual Lord Mayor's Parade.

Paul Jackson, Mr Gill's lawyer, said the lorry being used as a float braked suddenly and Mr Gill, who lives in York, fell to the ground. "Basically, our client fell off. His injuries were very bad and he's now confined to a wheelchair," Mr Jackson said.

Mr Gill, a former railway engineer, was pressing his case for compensation at a trial at the High Court in Leeds this week but yesterday the firms insuring the lorry driver and the vehicle's owners agreed to a £600,000 settlement.

Mr Jackson said the money would go towards Mr Gill's care. Mr Gill, who learnt to play the tuba late in life, still plays with the band using a special instrument support.