Man loses fight for compensation after falling off bridge in south London as judge rules 'an accident is no one's fault'

Accident: The man fell off the footbridge whilst pushing his bike through Beddington Park
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Chloe Chaplain12 October 2016

A man who fell off an ornamental footbridge in a south London park has lost his fight for compensation after top judges decided that sometimes no one is to blame for an accident.

Christopher Edwards hurt his head after falling about four feet onto rocks in water below the bridge in Beddington Park, Sutton, six years ago when he was 64.

He complained that Sutton Council had not carried out adequate risk assessments and should have put protective barriers on the bridge.

A judge had ruled in his favour following a High Court hearing and said the council was largely to blame.

But three appeal judges have upheld a challenge by Sutton Council following a Court of Appeal hearing in London.

Council bosses argued that the bridge did not constitute a danger - and said they had no duty to "warn of the obvious".

And today judges Lady Justice Arden, Lord Justice Lewison and Lord Justice McCombe agreed with the council.

Lord Justice McCombe, said he sympathised with Mr Edwards but added: "Not every accident - even if it has serious consequences - has to be the fault of another."

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