Race car mechanic who claims PTSD suffered while being a volunteer firefighter turned him into an alcoholic with mental illness wins payout
- Simon Andrews spent 17 years with the NSW Rural Fire Service
- He sued the government after developing chronic PTSD
- The race car mechanic suffered from alcohol abuse and mental illness
- He claimed he was out of pocket more than $100,000
A volunteer firefighter who says he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder due to his nearly two decades of service has settled a claim against the NSW Government.
Simon Andrews said he developed chronic PTSD, related alcohol abuse and various other mental health issues as a result of spending 17 years in the NSW Rural Fire Service and was subsequently unable to work.
In court documents, he claimed his annual medical costs totalled almost $15,000, he’d lost the capacity to earn $78,000 in annual wages and he needed domestic carers worth $25,000 per year.
But just as his case for compensation was due to be heard in the Supreme Court in Sydney on Wednesday, his lawyer, Michael Finnane QC, announced an agreement had been reached between the two parties.
Any financial payout can’t be disclosed publicly as the settlement is confidential.
Simon Andrews leaves the Supreme Court in Sydney after reaching a settlement with the NSW Government over PTSD he suffered while being a volunteer firefighter.
Justice Julia Lonergan congratulated the parties on reaching an agreement noting it couldn’t have been easy.
‘I appreciate the matter had very difficult, complex and emotive issues,’ she told the court.
The RFS on Wednesday said it strives to provide effective care and support to members and had worked with mental health organisations such as Beyond Blue and RUOK.
‘As well as our established crisis and support care for members and their families, the service has developed and is implementing a mental health strategy that has an emphasis on improving protection, prevention and intervention approaches,’ it said in a statement.
Mr Andrews volunteered with fire brigades in Illawong and Austral – on Sydney’s outskirts – between 1997 and 2014.
The 48-year-old former race car mechanic and delivery driver said he witnessed people suffering horrific injuries, attended suicide scenes and fought hundreds of fires.
Between 2004 and 2011, he claimed he was called to more than 500 fires and explosions, 104 motor vehicle accidents and 58 hazardous situations.
One of his final jobs was tackling a one-kilometre grass fire at the shooting facility built for the Sydney Olympics.
‘When (Mr Andrews) got home that day, he realised he just could not attend another fire,’ his statement of claim says.
Mr Andrews said he witnessed people suffering horrific injuries, attended suicide scenes and fought hundreds of fires
While the state of NSW agreed Mr Andrews was never formally screened for possible PTSD following critical incidents, it rejected a claim it never provided him with information necessary to detect the early signs of the condition.
In papers filed to the court in its defence, the government said Mr Andrews was provided on multiple occasions with documents on critical incident support services.
It also denied any negligence including that it failed to take adequate care for the safety of Mr Andrews.
The ex-volunteer had claimed an RFS welfare coordinator failed to refer him for psychiatric or psychological assessment.
In its defence papers listed ahead of Wednesday’s hearing, NSW did not admit Mr Andrews suffered chronic PTSD or related alcohol abuse.
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