Footballer Callum Davenport has been categorised as “stable but progressing” after he was stabbed in both legs after being attacked at his mother’s home in Kempston, Bedfordshire, on Saturday.
Mr Davenport, 26, who plays for premier league club West Ham United, was allegedly attacked by his sister’s boyfriend, Mr Worell Whitehurst, following an argument in the early hours of the morning.
The defender has undergone surgery on his legs but no update has been received on whether he will be able to resume his playing career with his club, a spokeswoman for West Ham stating that she could not comment on reports that doctors were confident of saving the player’s left leg, which it was feared he may lose.
This is a horrendous incident and the nature of the attack appears to have been clearly strategically planned, with the focus of the attack on not only injuring Mr Davenport but also ruining his livelihood by damaging his legs.
Mr Davenport will most likely be entitled to make a claim for compensation for his injuries through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, particularly if his injuries are so devastating as to affect his ability to work, through football or otherwise.
The Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (or CICA) operates to compensate people who have been physically or mentally injured because they were the innocent victim of a violent crime.
If a person is absent from work for a period greater than 28 weeks then they may be able to make a claim for loss of earnings from that period onwards as part of their claim. This seems, given the gravity of the injuries suffered, as though it may be the case here. However, the total award made by the authority would be a maximum of £500,000 so his premier league wages may not be fully compensated as part of any claim he would be entitled to make.
