An Ipswich railway worker has been awarded £25,000 in compensation after a work incident near the track left him with a metal plate in his ankle.

The 67-year-old known as Vincent fractured his ankle after slipping on a concrete cover on a walkway while on shift in January 2021.

The injury forced the man, who had worked on the railways for more than 40 years, to give up his line of work and move into an office-based job.

Following the incident, he was taken to Ipswich Hospital, where X-rays revealed a fracture in the right ankle, and now has a metal plate in place.

He underwent corrective surgery, took six months off work, and has since given up his more active hobbies.

He launched a compensation claim for his injuries and financial losses, on the basis that his employer Network Rail Infrastructure had failed in their duty towards him and had breached several health and safety regulations.

The RMT member said: “This incident was wholly avoidable. My employer views health and safety as little more than a box ticking exercise.

"The welfare of rail track workers isn’t taken seriously enough, yet we are the ones keeping our rail network safe for passengers.

“I used to be a very active person and enjoyed participating in martial arts, which I’ve had to stop because of my injuries.

“I am delighted with the outcome of my claim. Having some financial security allows me to focus on my health and wellbeing.”

Lee Parlett, head of safety for Network Rail Anglia, apologised for the unfortunate incident that happened in 2021.

He said: "We review the safety measures in place for all our staff on an ongoing basis, and this incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued diligence in the risk management of slips, trips, and falls.

"Following this incident, a thorough investigation was conducted, and necessary safeguards have been promptly implemented."