CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28542, 22 March 1958, Page 8

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

Radioactivity In Man’s Leg (N Z. PreM Association— Copyright! MELBOURNE, March 20. Fdr six days a man had carried a radioactive capsule in his overalls pocket, not knowing of its terrible danger, the Melbourne Supreme Court was told today. The man is John Martin Thoonen, aged 27, a Dutch migrant. -A Thoonen is claiming unspecified damages front the Commonwealth of Australia for injuries caused by the radioactive capsule. He claims the radioactivity disintegrated his right leg, and he had to have it amputated.

Thoonen also claims it has affected his powers of fatherhood and resulted in other injuries. The Commonwealth has admitted liability, and the jury is asked only to assess damages. Thoonen’s counsel, Mr C. A. Sweeney, Q.C.,.said: “This-apparently innocent piece of metal about IJin long and about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, was one of the most terrible things this man could possibly have come into contact with."

Mr Sweeney told the jury that Thoonen had been employed as a rigger for Stewarts and Lloyds (Australia) Pty., Ltd., at the State Electricity Commission plant at Yallourn, 60 miles from Melbourne, on December 8, 1955.