Insurance firm agrees to help man who lost leg

A Timaru man who lost his leg is pleased he has received assistance from his insurance company.

Bo Fenton featured on the Fair Go TV programme last night, and received an offer of support to aid his recovery and rehabilitation from Sovereign Insurance.

This was after they declined a payout when his leg was amputated last December.

"I am grateful to Fair Go and The Timaru Herald for the outcome, which has highlighted the issue with living insurance policies," he said.

"I am hoping that the insurance companies review the limbs payout and instead of paying out for two or more limbs that they look at the percentage of lost ability."

The programme came after a Herald article last month about Mr Fenton, who contracted the muscle-eating disease necrotising fasciitis after he cut his leg on coral while on holiday in Vanuatu in November last year. He was rushed to hospital in December, and ultimately had his leg amputated near his hip.

Mr Fenton rang Sovereign from his hospital bed and was told initially that because he had lost his mobility he would qualify for a claim under his living assurance policy.

He was later told he did not qualify because the policy required that two limbs be lost.

A lawyer was unable to get a more satisfactory answer and Mr Fenton was forced from his Queenstown property. Unable to work as a painter and to pay his mortgage, he had to rent the property.

He has moved back to Timaru, his home town, to live with his twin sister Jo, a nurse. Fair Go picked up the issue and approached Sovereign about the apparent discrepancy.

A spokesman for Sovereign, David Drillien told the programme that Mr Fenton was not covered "under the definition of the policy", although he acknowledged this would be a "hard thing to hear if you've lost a leg".

He said the company had made changes to the policy but as claims could not be made retrospectively, the changes would not affect him, but he was grateful for Sovereign's agreement.

"I would like to acknowledge that Sovereign has had no liability to pay out in my situation as I have clearly lost one limb.

"However, they have agreed to provide me with support to aid my recovery and rehabilitation."

Since the amputation Mr Fenton has remained positive, impressing medical staff as he has worked hard to move from a wheelchair to crutches and more recently learning how to use a prosthetic leg.

He said ASB had set up a support account to provide him assistance. Anyone wishing to offer financial support can make a donation to account number 123205 0140668 00

- © Fairfax NZ News