A FORMER Padgate High School pupil is claiming up to £100,000 in damages after teachers failed to get medical help when she injured her knee on a skiing trip.

After returning from the holiday she spent 15 days in hospital and underwent major reconstructive surgery on her left leg, including the removal of tendons from her right leg.

A high court writ claims that while on a £950 school holiday in Mont St Anne in Canada, Hannah Morris, a competent skier, of Aviemore Drive, Cinnamon Brow, fell over at speed on a bend, seriously hurting her leg.

The group had been practising on a European Red Run – an intermediate slope – measuring around 550 metres in length during the evening of February 25, 2006.

Steven Diggle, a teacher at the Insall Road school, wrongly claimed to be a trained physiotherapist and told the then 18-year-old that she had minor ligament damage, her solicitors Royds LPP claim.

Later that evening, Hannah’s leg gave way in the bathroom. Despite requests for help from one of her friends, Mr Diggle failed to respond until one or two hours later.

The following day the A-level student’s leg was swollen and bruised and she was unable to ski.

According to the writ, Mr Diggle returned the pupil’s crutches to the first aid post, leaving her to walk without support while in pain.

When the party came to leave Montreal Airport for Heathrow two days after the incident, the writ says: “Hannah asked to use a wheelchair.

“However, when she saw this, Joyce Sutcliffe (a teacher and the group leader) told the airline, staff and other pupils that a wheelchair was not necessary and the claimant was merely seeking attention.”

Hannah’s mum was shocked at her daughter’s condition on return from the break and took her to Warrington Hospital where she was treated as an emergency case and operated on.

She was discharged from hospital on March 14 to rest.

Her solicitors say Hannah’s preparation for her A2 exams was severely affected.

A medical report by Mr McNicholas, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said the claimant will need a metal plate removed from her leg and future reconstructive surgery.

The now 21-year-old sustained a dislocation of her left knee with injuries to ligaments.

She also received physiotherapy and treatment following the operation.

Warrington Borough Council, the defendant in the case, faces 12 counts of breaching duty of care to the student.

The charges include failing to seek medical advice, not receiving prior approval from the then head teacher for the excursion, not appreciating Hannah’s need for immediate medical attention and not checking that the adults with the party could speak and read the language of the country – at least to hold basic conversation in an emergency.

David Cruickshank, head of finance and business services at the council, said: “As this case is still ongoing I do not feel it is appropriate to comment.”

The school’s processes for educational trips and visits are now believed to be very rigorous.