How an innocent sausage sizzle at a bowling club led to one man banking $1MILLION in compensation after a VERY painful incident with 'flaming fat'
A man has been awarded more than $1million in damages after severely burning his hand in a BBQ mishap at a bowling club.
Kraig Anthony Dann was asked to cook a 'large quantity' of sausages at Tasmania's Port Sorell Bowls Club during a barefoot bowls evening in November 2015.
When a ceramic mug collecting dripping fat caught alight underneath the barbecue, he instinctively removed it to stop the fire spreading.
Kraig Anthony Dann (pictured above) has been award over $1million following a BBQ mishap at a bowling club in 2015
Mr Dann spilt fat on his hands, leaving him with burns to several of his fingers (stock image)
The mug spilt on his right hand, leaving Dann in agony with partial-thickness burns to several of his fingers.
In a judgment published on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Helen Wood found the Port Sorell Bowls Club breached its duty of care and the mug collection 'method' was 'flawed.'
Since the accident, Dann has been unable to work as a tradesman and is said to be suffering severe depression and anxiety.
Justice Wood also found the club failed to provide a suitable fat-collection container and didn't ensure it was in a safe position and empty.
They also didn't provide adequate instructions to volunteers using the barbecue, proper cooking gear, such as mitts, or tell Dann where fire extinguishers were located, she said.
Ms Wood added the mug collection method was 'common knowledge' among regular barbecue operators - but Dann was not informed about the unusual practice.
'The fat collection set up was not what would be anticipated by anyone with a general familiarity of gas barbecues,' she said.
'It was counter intuitive ... in close proximity to the burners on a tray with two winged corners.'
Justice Wood awarded Dann a total of $1,074,880 in damages, mainly to cover future and past loss of earnings.