Former star rock-climber Lai Chi-wai — who you may remember as the guy who climbed up Lion Rock in his wheelchair — has been awarded HKD16 million in damages over the traffic accident that left him paralyzed nine years ago.
At the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Mohan Bharwaney said in a written judgment that Lai’s case was “particularly distressing” because it left a world champion unable to pursue his sport and resulted in a loss of income, SCMP reports.
Prior to the accident in December 2011, Lai won the Cheung Chau bun-scrambling competition in 2008 and was a four-time winner of the Asian Rock Climbing Championships. In 2006, he was ranked eighth in the world league table.
On December 9, 2011, Lai was riding his motorcycle on Tuen Mun Road when he was hit from behind by a car that was traveling at 80km/h. He fell into another lane, where he was then hit by a second car. In 2014, he filed a civil lawsuit against the two drivers, surnamed Tong and Tsui.
Bharwaney determined that that Tong, Tsui, and Lai were all responsible for the accident, but assigned 75 percent of the responsibility to the drivers — in particular Tong, who was driving under the influence.
The judge ordered Tong and Tsui to pay Lai HKD16 million plus interest, including HKD1.35 million for pain, suffering, and loss of amenities; HKD2.83 million for loss of income and retirement benefits; HKD3.94 million for medical treatment, professional nursing care, and other expenses; and HKD3 million for a robotic exoskeleton that will allow him to regain use of his legs.
On the five-year anniversary of his accident, Lai made headlines by pulling himself up Hong Kong’s most iconic mountain, Lion Rock, in his wheelchair. He was inspired by the rock’s significance as a symbol of Hong Kong’s indomitable spirit and said at the time, “There were difficulties, but to overcome such obstacles is in the Lion Rock Spirit.” Footage of Lai’s climb was made into a documentary, and his inspirational story later became the basis of the film Lion Rock, which came out last year.
