NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Football / English Premier League

Footballer left with severe brain damage wins £7m court case

Daily Mail
4 Oct, 2016 08:54 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Radwan Hamed (pictured recently) was a gifted striker in the Premier League club's academy. Photo / Daily Mail UK

Radwan Hamed (pictured recently) was a gifted striker in the Premier League club's academy. Photo / Daily Mail UK

A former Tottenham Hotspur player left severely brain damaged after the club breached its duties to him has won a damages claim of around £7m.

Despite scans showing that his heart was 'unequivocally abnormal' Radwan Hamed was allowed to continue playing football.

The player, then aged 17, collapsed during his first game as a professional for Spurs in Belgium in August 2006

A High Court judge had previously ruled Tottenham breached its duties to Radwan and this morning damages believed to be in the region of £7m were ordered to be paid after a 10-year court battle.

Hamed, a gifted striker, was screened by Dr Peter Mills, the Football Association's regional cardiologist for South East England when he signed a professional contract.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However, despite abnormalities showing on the scan, the teenager was allowed to continue playing and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest in his first game.

Hamed's father, Raymond, claimed his catastrophic injuries resulted from the negligence of Dr Mills and Dr Charlotte Cowie and Dr Mark Curtin, specialist sports physicians employed by Spurs.

Dr Cowie has since gone on to become medical director for the FA in a controversial appointment first revealed by Sportsmail in April.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

At an earlier hearing Mr Justice Hickinbottom ruled the club was 70 per cent liable with Dr Mills 30 per cent liable.

Spurs will not be hit with a fee directly as their 70 per cent portion was incurred by sports physicians they previously employed, who have agreed to indemnify the club.

After granting a compensation order for an undisclosed figure understood to be around £7m, Mr Justice Lewis said: 'Radwan Hamed was a promising young footballer. At the age of 17 he was playing his first professional match for Tottenham Hotspur.

'Sadly, Radwan suffered from a heart defect and tragically suffered heart attack on the pitch. His heart stopped for many minutes and his brain was starved of oxygen. Thankfully, Radwan survived but he suffered serious injuries.

Discover more

Sport

Is this the saddest grand final pic ever?

04 Oct 12:46 AM
Sport

New Zealand Baseball team given Olympic chance

04 Oct 01:03 AM
New Zealand

'World a poorer place for Luke's passing'

04 Oct 03:59 AM
NRL

Big names swap teams in NRL trade

04 Oct 07:15 AM

'There is a system for scanning and screening heart defects in young footballers. Radwan was scanned and the results indicated he might have a heart defect. An earlier hearing found insufficient communication between doctors who carried out the scan and doctors at Tottenham Hotspur.

'The compensation will need to compensate for injury and for loss of earnings. More importantly it will need to ensure his future needs are met. I would like to pay tribute to Radwan Hamed's family.

'His father and mother and two sisters are a caring and loving family. Mr and Mrs Hamed have cared for Radwan since his tragic injury. They have shown great love and devotion.

'The proposed settlement provides for payment of compensation and interest. I am satisfied the proposed settlement is a fair just and appropriate settlement.

Spurs issued a statement following an earlier hearing. It read: 'The club wholeheartedly regrets that a former employee, as adjudged, was remiss in their duties to Radwan.

'This judgement will hopefully now secure the best treatment and care for him.'

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE HAMED FAMILY

Outside the High Court, Diane Rostron, a specialist medical solicitor for Addies Solicitors, issued the following statement on behalf of Radwan Hamed and his family.

'10 years ago, our son, Radwan then aged just 17, suffered a cardiac arrest whilst playing football for Tottenham Hotspur. Our athletic, enthusiastic, ambitious, beautiful son was no longer able to walk or talk. He was blind - he had no idea who we were. The doctors advised that recovery was highly unlikely, if not impossible.

'Our shock, devastation and despair has never left us and never will. Tottenham's doctor, Charlotte Cowie, knew that Radwan might have a potentially fatal cardiac condition. That vital information was never shared with us or Radwan.

'Just as Radwan had no choice but to start his difficult journey towards recovery, we had no choice but to start the difficult journey to obtain justice.

'We risked losing our home and faced personal financial ruin in order to pursue justice for our son. In February 2015, after nine long difficult years, the High Court found the Club, its doctors and Dr Mills negligent.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

'Whilst today's settlement ends our painful crusade for justice for our son, it does not end his fight for recovery. That will never end.

'He cannot live the life of a fit, young, independent man - that is his personal tragedy that can never be undone. The compensation awarded will provide for the care and support he needs for the rest of his life.

'We were, and are, disappointed that Tottenham let our son down so badly and denied any wrongdoing for so very long. We are grateful beyond words for the recovery our son has made and continues to make.

'We wish to thank our beautiful daughters and family for their love and support over the last decade. We are grateful to the British justice system and our experts and legal team.

'Finally, we hope that steps will be taken to ensure that our tragedy is not repeated and inflicted upon another family.'

Save

    Share this article

Latest from English Premier League

English Premier League

Manchester United captain rejects $450m Saudi Arabia move

03 Jun 11:35 PM
World

Driver of Liverpool car which ploughed into crowd suspected of taking drugs

27 May 07:06 PM
English Premier League

Police rule out terrorism as 27 injured after car ploughs into crowd in Liverpool

26 May 10:29 PM

Help for those helping hardest-hit

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from English Premier League

Manchester United captain rejects $450m Saudi Arabia move

Manchester United captain rejects $450m Saudi Arabia move

03 Jun 11:35 PM

Bruno Fernandes' decision is a major boost for Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.

Driver of Liverpool car which ploughed into crowd suspected of taking drugs

Driver of Liverpool car which ploughed into crowd suspected of taking drugs

27 May 07:06 PM
Police rule out terrorism as 27 injured after car ploughs into crowd in Liverpool

Police rule out terrorism as 27 injured after car ploughs into crowd in Liverpool

26 May 10:29 PM
Palace stun Man City to win FA Cup for first time

Palace stun Man City to win FA Cup for first time

17 May 07:03 PM
How a Timaru mum of three budding chefs stretched her grocery shop
sponsored

How a Timaru mum of three budding chefs stretched her grocery shop

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP