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 | | Thursday, 9 May, 2002, 17:34 GMT 18:34 UK 'Radiation sickness' blamed on TV mast  Two men who claim they have radiation sickness are claiming compensation after working on a live television mast in Redruth in Cornwall. The Court of Appeal in London was told that Alan Davis and John Docherty's lives had been devastated by exposure to radiation. It is claimed the pair were affected whilst working on the BBC-owned television mast at a height of nearly 400 feet, six years ago. Mr Davis' counsel, Timothy Lamb, QC, told the court the men had been erecting a new television aerial for the new Channel 5, and had had no choice but to work in close proximity to live electronic equipment. Similar symptoms The court heard that just a few days into the job in 1996, Mr Davis, then aged 48, from Long Load, Langport, Somerset, fell ill. Mr Lamb QC, said Mr Davis had "never recovered". Mr Lamb claimed that a few days after Mr Davis, Mr Docherty also went off sick with similar symptoms.
Mr Docherty was then aged 31 and from Meadow Walk, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. He said both men had been diagnosed with radiation sickness. It was a "foundation stone" of his case that the only explanation for that was exposure to electromagnetic radiation whilst working up the mast between 24 June and 11 July 1996. Retrial call The gang that the pair worked for were employed by construction firm Balfour Kilpatrick Ltd, who were under contract to telecommunications giant NTL to instal Channel 5 equipment on various masts. Mr Davis and Mr Docherty are suing all three companies and Castle Transmission International Ltd - who later took over the mast - for substantial damages. In January last year, Judge Overend ruled at Exeter District Registry that they had failed to prove a link between their symptoms and radiation exposure. Mr Lamb is asking Lord Justice Kennedy, Lord Justice Tuckey and Mr Justice Jackson to overturn Judge Overend's decision and order a retrial of the vital issues in the case. The hearing continues. | |   Top England stories now:  Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||
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