Bus driver Martin Wells tried to claim on his insurance after having a leg amputated – and was told they would only pay up if he had both cut off.

Martin Wells
Martin Wells was told he couldn’t claim on his insurance (Pic: Caters)

Mr Wells paid £4,500 over 12 years for the critical illness cover with Scottish Widows in the belief he’d qualify for a £500,000 payout if he fell seriously ill.

But the father of three said: ‘I was told I would need to have two limbs amputated before they would pay. It’s ridiculous.’

The 47-year-old had an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg following a series of infections in his limb, including blood poisoning.

The problem started after a motorbike crash 30 years ago.

But Scottish Widows told him he cannot get a pay-out from his critical illness policy to clear his £40,000 mortgage.

A spokesman for Scottish Widows confirmed the policy covered the loss of hands or feet – permanent physical severance of any combination of two or more hands or feet at or above the wrist or ankle joints.

‘Under the Association of British Insurers loss of limb definition, adhered to by us, a critical illness policy only pays out when two limbs are lost,’ it added.

Mr Wells, from Allenton, Derby, said once he recovered and had a false leg fitted, he was hopeful of returning to work again as a bus driver because his employer, Premier Travel, in Nottinghamshire, has buses with automatic gearboxes so he won’t need to use a clutch.

But he said money was a big concern for his family which includes wife Diana, and daughters Charlotte, 19, and Lauren, 17, and son Simon, who is 15.