A former Mansfield soldier says he had no option but to leave the "career he'd always dreamed of" after suffering a life-changing injury. Vance Bacon-Sharratt served in the Army's Mercian Regiment and while attending a firepower demonstration (FPD) in October 2016, an explosion took place which left him with hearing loss and tinnitus.
The 33-year-old has now secured a £350,000 settlement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which will be used to pay for the ongoing specialist therapies and support he required. The MoD denied liability and said: "The health and well-being of our people is always our priority."
Mr Bacon-Sharatt first joined the Army in 2008 but following the 2016 explosion, he had to leave his career behind two years later. He now works as a driving instructor and lives with his partner Jemma and two daughters.
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Speaking about the moment of his injury, Mr Bacon-Sharratt said: "When the explosion happened at the FPD, I felt the effects instantly. I couldn't hear properly, but at the same time there was a ringing in my ears.
"I ended up being diagnosed with hearing loss and tinnitus, which explained the discomfort I was experiencing. It was extremely difficult to adapt my life around my diagnosis, which is why I felt like I had no option but to leave the Army, even though it was a career I'd always dreamed of.
"Since then, I have gone through many ups and downs and to this day I still struggle to come to terms with what's happened. Despite everything, I'm grateful for the support I've had and wanted to share my story to make others aware of the help available. I'm also determined to move on with my life and not let my hearing loss stop me from living it to the full."
Chelsea Towner, the specialist military injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who represented Mr Bacon-Sharratt, said: "The last few years have been incredibly difficult for Vance, firstly coming to terms with his diagnosis and then making the tough decision to leave behind a career he loved.
"All employers have a duty of care to protect their employees and through our work, we come across too many people who have sustained injury while serving in the Army. Hearing loss and tinnitus are serious health issues, the psychological and physical effects of which should never be downplayed.
"While nothing will make up for what Vance has suffered, we're pleased to have been able to help secure him settlement which will hopefully allow him to move forward with his life as best he can." A spokesperson for the MoD said: "We carefully assess noise levels and provide hearing protection when asking personnel to undertake duties in noisy environments.
"We have reached an out of court settlement with Mr Bacon-Sharratt. It would be inappropriate to comment on the terms of the settlement."
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