A FORMER RAF technician who broke his neck during a fun day at an Air Force base has launched a £6 million compensation bid in London's High Court.

Robert Uren was just 21 when he came to grief while taking part in an It's a Knockout-style event at RAF High Wycombe in July 2005, leaving him paralysed.

Mr Uren, of South Tehidy, Camborne, was participating in a relay race in which services personnel had to run 45 feet before retrieving "plastic fruit" toys from the bottom of an inflatable pool, the court was told.

His QC, Sir Geoffrey Nice, claimed Mr Uren and fellow participants were "encouraged" to dive into the shallow pool by the event's organisers, Corporate Leisure (UK) Ltd, who are being sued alongside the Ministry of Defence.

Both Corporate Leisure (UK), of Bracknell, Berkshire, and the MoD deny negligence and liability for Mr Uren's injuries and are fighting the case.

Sir Geoffrey said the tragedy occurred as Mr Uren tried to take evasive action to avoid game participants who were already in the pool searching for the "plastic fruit" as he approached at speed.

To avoid colliding with them, he tried an awkward "diagonal" dive, but slipped on either wet grass or the surrounding mats in his entry, executing an "uncontrolled dive".

As a result he caught his legs on the side of the pool and cartwheeled forward, striking his head on the bottom of the pool.

Mr Uren, who joined the RAF at 18 and wanted to secure a commission, fractured his spine in three places, sustaining damage to the spinal cord which rendered him tetraplegic. He is now "permanently wheelchair-dependent" and his injuries mean he is now only able to move his arms slightly.

He was medically discharged from the RAF after his accident.

The former senior aircraftsman is accusing Corporate Leisure and the MoD for allegedly failing to ensure the game was safe and – in the MoD's case – "failing to provide a safe system of work".

Sir Geoffrey argued those supervising the event should have barred diving into the pool, which was unsuitable because it was situated on a slight gradient and was "low-sided".

The first two hours of the hearing were devoted to lawyers debating possible amendments to Mr Uren's case, but the trial is expected to get properly underway today when he begins giving evidence.

Lawyers for the MoD point out the game was "run and compered" by Corporate Leisure staff, while its QC, Derek Sweeting, argues a dive into the pool was "clearly dangerous" given its shallowness. The hearing is expected to last several days.