Hero dog faces insurance battle

The owner of an award-winning hound is facing a battle with his insurance company.

09:40 22 July 2004

A dog and his owner are facing a lengthy insurance battle following a dramatic accident.

David Coyle and his dogs Bertie and Wilf were on their daily walk in Ipswich when Springer Spaniel Wilf plunged off a 50ft bridge as he attempted to chase a pheasant.

Mr Coyle told the Suffolk Evening Star that he had looked over the edge of the bridge and had seen Wilf lying on the track "completely lifeless".

He carried the 16kg dog more than a mile to Christchurch Veterinary Surgery, where they found he had suffered a broken jaw, snapped ligaments in both of his front paws and was in deep shock.

Mr Coyle, who holds an insurance policy with Tesco, told the newspaper that he is now having to fight to reclaim the cost of the vet's bill, which totalled just under 5,000.

He explained that the insurance company had informed him that he could only recover the cost for one of Wilf's three injuries, as they were all suffered in a single incident, offering a maximum pay out of 2,500.

The financial ombudsman has now intervened and is currently investigating. A spokesman for Tesco confirmed the matter was being investigated and said the company is in discussion with the financial ombudsman about resolving the situation.