A forklift driver who became a paraplegic after a forklift fell on him has been awarded GBP2.4m (USD3.4 million) in damages.

A BBC News report said Greg Arde, 28, suffered a crushed spine and head when his forklift toppled in April 1995 at Duel Ltd, a stationery company in Cwmbran, south-east Wales. Mr Arde was trapped under the 1.5-tonne forklift for 20 minutes. His back was broken in three places.

Mr Arde now has impaired speech and is paralysed from the waist down. The case went to trial in 1998, and 90% liability was established against Duel. Damages were to be assessed this month, but the case was settled out of court in February.

"I cannot remember much about the accident, just that the forklift overturned. I woke up on the way to hospital, then went unconscious and didn't come round for four weeks," Mr Arde said.

Mick Antoniw, Mr Arde's lawyer, said the settlement figure followed "intense negotiations" and was "one of the largest-ever settlements" in south Wales.

Duel Ltd was no longer operating, the BBC said.