Judge tosses out former golfer's claim of loss of future earnings

A FORMER golfer who said he had to retire from professional golf in 2022 due to injuries from a car accident, is claiming more than R17 million from the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

- ZELDA VENTER

Teagan Gauche turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, after he suffered severe injuries in December 2013 when he swerved out of an oncoming taxi's path, and the car he was driving landed on its roof.

Included in his damages claim against the fund is a claim for R15m for estimated loss of earnings.

He said he was forced to retire from golf in 2022 as a result of his injuries, and that he had had a bright golfing future.

At the time of the collision, he was a 21-year-old amateur golfer. He had to take two years off after the crash and withdraw from events owing to pain.

He further told the court that he became a professional golfer and played professionally from 2017. He stopped his professional golfing career in 2022 due to his injuries, he said.

Gauche, among others, sustained a fracture-dislocation of the cervical spine and a neck injury.