A gravedigger who claimed he plunged ten feet into an open grave during a burial in Warrington has discontinued his £50,000 compensation bid after medical experts raised questions about the truthfulness of his account.

The worker alleged that a colleague “let go of a coffin at a crucial moment”, causing him to fall into the freshly dug grave back in December 2021. He alleged that he suffered a significant knee injury and even developed PTSD as a result.

But while the accident itself was believed to be genuine, insurers suspected the injuries were being wildly exaggerated.

While liability was denied from the outset, the real battleground became the validity and extent of the injuries, with particular scrutiny on the PTSD diagnosis.

A series of detailed Part 35 questions were put to both the orthopaedic consultant and the psychologist involved. These queries probed inconsistencies in the claimant’s presentation and whether the accident could truly have caused the symptoms he described.

Before those answers were even due to be disclosed, the claimant abruptly discontinued the case - a move that brought the claim to an end before his medical evidence could be scrutinised.

The total claim had included £50,000 in damages and more than £31,000 in state benefit recoveries, alongside £15,000 in legal costs. Ultimately, not a single penny was paid.

While workplace accidents can have serious consequences, this case is a reminder that claims still need to be supported by consistent, credible medical evidence – particularly where psychological injury is alleged.