A FORMER mechanic who lost both of his legs in a motorsport event has been told he is not disabled enough to get a full insurance payout.

Gerry McPeake, 32, was competing for the first time in the Scotia Winch 4x4 Challenge at Griffin Forest, near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, in June when he almost died in an incident which destroyed his legs and mangled his right hand.

The orienteering event involves 4x4s tackling tough terrain, navigating boulders, tree stumps and steep slopes using winches and straps.

Each vehicle involved has a two-person team of a driver and a winchman who stands outside the vehicle on tricky manoeuvres to help give direction.

McPeake was helping another team up the hill when a boulder came loose and pinned him against another rock, crushing his legs and hand.

He was trapped for four hours because the site was too inaccessible for the emergency services.

Eventually an RAF helicopter took McPeake to Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital, where both his legs had to be amputated.

McPeake, who enjoyed mountain biking, hillwalking and climbing, is now learning to walk again with his new prosthetic legs through regular physiotherapy sessions. He is suing the Motor Sports Association (MSA), which licences the event.

He has had to take his request for a copy of the MSA’s accident report to the Information Commissioner after it was refused on several occasions.

Despite being told by the commissioner they must hand over the document by December 23, McPeake, from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, is still waiting for the MSA to do so.

A car mechanic for 17 years, he will never be able to return to his old job because of his disabilities.

He said: “The MSA are putting things in place to mess me about so I don’t get to see the report and are making it awkward for me to get any information.

“The insurance company said they would pay out on the loss of limbs but they won’t pay out on permanently disabled because I’m not disabled enough for them.

“According to them I’m not permanently disabled even though I’ve lost both my legs. They argue that I will be able to do some form of work so even if you can answer a phone or press a button you are not disabled.

“Basically, you have to be a vegetable to get the full payout. We have not settled the payout yet. None of this is about money, it is about making people accountable for what happened and making sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“We still don’t know what safety checks were done prior to the event. As far as we knew, everything was safe for us to take part.

“I know there are risks in an event like this but as far as I know the event wasn’t covered properly. There were stewards but none at that actual point.”

The MSA said it was unable to comment and would not discuss the insurance claims because an investigation was still ongoing.

A spokesman said: “The event in which Mr McPeake was competing was authorised by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) and organised by an MSA-affiliated club in accordance with MSA regulations.

“Since the investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for the MSA to comment at this time, other than to say that the MSA again expresses its sympathies for Mr McPeake, who suffered serious injuries as a result of this incident.”

McPeake’s lawyer Victoria Aquino, from Thompsons Solicitors, said her client has had to “endure a life-changing injury, the horror of which very few of us can imagine”.

She added: “He has suffered dreadfully and I would appeal to those in charge of the Motor Sports Association to reflect on that. They have a duty of care towards Gerry and right now they are really letting him down.

“They need to engage with myself and Gerry so we can work out the best way forward to help him piece his life back together. We need to make sure that Gerry has the proper care for his life going forward but also that this never happens again to anyone else at a MSA event.”