A businessman left brain damaged after banging his head when he slipped on a puddle of Baileys liqueur at Heathrow Airport is now suing British Airways for more than £5million in compensation.
Andreas Wuchner suffered a 'traumatic brain injury' after falling near a British Airways check-in desk at Britain's busiest airport in November 2017.
Mr Wuchner, who ran an office supplies company, says the impact of the accident meant his firm folded months later and he will never be able to work again.
He is now suing British Airways Plc at Central LondonCounty Court, claiming more than £5million in compensation for his injuries and the loss of his business career.
Judge Simon Monty previously awarded Mr Wuchner a £130,000 payout at the same court in February 2021 and opened the door for him to claim more.
Andreas Wuchner is suing British Airways for £5million in compensation after suffering a 'traumatic brain injury' after slipping and falling near a BA check-in desk
The Swiss businessman had been at Heathrow airport (pictured above in a file photo) to catch a British Airways jet to Zurich when the accident happened on November 11, 2017
Mr Wuchnerwas checking in for his flight when he went head over heels in a puddle of spilt Baileys liqueur - this file photo shows bottles of the beverage
READ MORE:Company boss wins £130,000 payout from British Airways after slipping in puddle of spilt Bailey's liqueur and hitting his head on floor at Heathrow and could be in line for more
<!- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - ->
Advertisem*nt
The case returned to court last week for a brief pre-trial hearing at which it was revealed that Mr Wuchner's claim - initially limited to £150,000 - had been significantly increased by his lawyers earlier this year.
Barrister Tom Bird, representing BA, told Judge David Saunders that Mr Wuchner, who is from Switzerland, was now claiming 'special damages' due to the alleged impact on his business and work.
Mr Bird said:'He alleges that the injury he sustained at Heathrow caused the liquidation of his business in Switzerland and means that he will never be able to work again.
'The defendant contends that its liability for the accident is in any event limited to circa £120,000 under the Montreal Convention.'
According to a witness statement, Mr Wuchner says the brain injury he sustained in the fall has left him suffering from repeated headaches 'which can last continuously for up to two weeks'.
The businessman, who was at Heathrow to catch a BA flight to Zurich when he slipped, also experiences 'forgetfulness' and 'concentration problems', he added.
Judgment has already been entered in favour of Mr Wuchner under the Montreal Convention, the law which governs payouts for injuries suffered by passengers when embarking on international flights.
However, he claims that he is entitled to much more in compensation than the normal limit under the Convention.
Issues regarding what else, if anything, which BA could have done to avoid the accident are expected to be argued in the trial.
British Airways has denied its staff were negligent when Mr Wuchner suffered his injuries - the firm's logo is seen her on plane tail fins at Heathrow airport in west London (file photo)
The case is before Central London County Court (pictured) with a four-day trial to come
Mr Bird told the judge:'There are significant factual disputes between the parties.'
He said these included not only 'the circ*mstances of the accident' but also 'the nature and extent of the claimant's injuries on his employment prospects and the reasons for the insolvency of his company, as well as the company's past and future performance'.
He added:'These issues will need to be explored in cross-examination in some detail, particularly given the sizeable damages being claimed.'
The trial is set to hear evidence from Mr Wuchner in person, BA staff, medics and forensic accountancy experts.
At an earlier hearing held in 2021 Natasha Jackson, for Mr Wuchner, explained: 'This was a slip on a spilt bottle of Bailey's liqueur, but unfortunately he does seem to have suffered some traumatic brain injury as a result.
'My unfortunate client slipped and fell on liquid on the floor while embarking at Heathrow. The liquid turned out to be Bailey's liqueur that hadn't been cleared up.'
She said he would be entitled to more money if BA staff were found to have been negligent, which the airline has insisted they were not.
Mr Wuchner's £5million compensation claim will now return to be heard by a judge during a four-day trial at Central London County Court at a later date.
