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A goldsmith who made jewels for the royal family has successfully sued a hospital for £125,000 after he lost the use of his arm.
Tony Bellingham, originally from Dartford, was creating personal jewellery for VIP customers before a freak accident left him with a constant burning pain.
In 2017, the 62-year-old was taken to hospital after a suspected heart attack where doctors made a mistake while putting in a catheter into his right arm, rupturing his radial nerve and right artery.
After a 10-hour procedure to save his arm, Tony – who now lives in Bromley – was left suffering with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CPRS).
CPRS is the worst pain known to man and ranks higher on the McGill pain scale than amputation and childbirth.
The goldsmith's arm split wide open when the catheter insertion went wrong.
He has now successfully sued the NHS hospital, which cannot be named for legal reasons, for £125,000.
KMTV's Joe Coshan spoke to Tony Bellingham last year
But he says he has been left "physically and mentally broken" by it all and is still suffering.
"Right now as we're standing here talking, it feels like I'm being scolded by a kettle, and it's never-ending," he explained.
"If I over-wash my hands, even with water, I get blisters equivalent to third degree burns."
Tony, who made jewellery for Princess Diana, had to learn to do every for himself again - from brushing his teeth to putting on his socks.
After three years, Tony was gradually able to start working again and last year, he and son Matthew re-launched their jewellery business, Bellingham & Bellingham.
"After three years I was able to use tools for a short amount of time.
"I love what I do so much and I couldn't imagine life without it.
"To fight back and get to the place where you were is food for the soul and has been great for healing."
