BOXER Herol Bomber Graham has lodged a claim for compensation from the owners of a building which collapsed on him as he ran a training session.
The 49-year-old was coaching at Rotherham Boxing Centre on Masbrough Street, Rotherham, in July 2005 when the roof collapsed – showering him and other boxers with masonry, plaster and dust.
The dad-of-four ended up trapped underneath a ringpost, which he credits with saving his life.
Last week The Star revealed that two of the children being coached at the time – a boy who was aged 10 and his sister, who was 14 – were seeking damages for injuries they suffered in the gym.
They are liaising with solicitors representing Mr Graham and the owners of the building – the Booth family who used to run Rotherham United – trying to get one of the parties to accept liability.
The legal firm representing brother and sister said the boy, who is now 14, still suffers from back pain and he and his sister, now 17, have suffered psychologically since.
Now Mr Graham, a former European Middleweight champion, has lodged his own claim for compensation.
His ex-wife Nina, the mother of his four children, said: "Herol rented the building – he did not own it and was not responsible for it.
"He was very lucky not to have lost his life when the roof collapsed, but what he did lose was his business because he had to stop coaching there, and that was a tough time for us with four children to support.
"He is suing the owner of the building for personal injuries and loss of earnings."
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