A MARINE engineer who was left partially paralysed after a diving incident has launched a legal battle for damages.

Geoffrey Hardaker, 57, was exploring a wreck in the North Sea off the Northumberland coast, in August 1991, when he was struck down by symptoms of the bends.

The High Court in Newcastle heard how despite being saved by RAF Rescue helicopter just half an hour after the accident, he did not receive decompression treatment until three hours later.

He was transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, and after hearing that their decompression chamber was closed, received basic medical care in the ambulance.

The court heard that Mr Hardaker, of Whitley Bay, was taken to The Police Training School decompression chamber, more than 14 miles away in Sunderland.

His barrister Dr Michael Powers, QC, said there was a further 30-minutes delay before he was admitted.

Mr Hardaker has brought the action against Newcastle Health Authority and Northumbria Police.

The case continues.