An RAF skydiver left paralysed after crashing into a Villa Park stand while dressed as Father Christmas will launch a legal battle for £1 million-plus compensation tomorrow. The High Court in London will hear how former Flight Sergeant Nigel Rogoff almost died when a festive parachute stunt went horribly wrong six years ago. The 45-year-old parachutist was left paralysed and had to have a leg amputated after the accident during a half-time display at a Villa v Arsenal game in December 1998, Watched by 40,000 horrified football fans and millions of TV viewers, the experienced skydiver went off course and smashed into the Trinity Road stand before plunging 200ft to the ground. His legs, hips, pelvis and ribs were broken and he needed an astonishing 177 units of blood - almost the entire stock of Birmingham's blood bank. Mr Rogoff, of Hildersley, Rosson-Wye, Herefordshire, is now seeking a seven-figure damages claim from the Ministry of Defence for negligence and personal injury. The basis of his claim is that the skyjump should never have taken place because winds at the stadium were gusting up to 25 mph - well above the safety limit for parachuting. But the MoD is contesting the case. A spokeswoman said: "Mr Rogoff is suing the Ministry of Defence for a claim of negligence, but we consider claims for compensation on the basis of legal liability. "In this case, following investigations, we do not believe we have a liability." Mr Rogoff made an astonishing recovery after the accident He fell in love with and married his nurse, Sarah Collins, aged 28, and the couple had twins, Oliver and Harry, who are now nearly four years old. The case reached London's Royal Courts of Justice on Friday as Mr Rogoff's barrister, Michael Maguire, asked the trial judge's permission to secure fresh expert evidence on the issue of prevailing wind conditions. But Mr Justice Eady refused the application on the grounds that it would mean adjourning a case that is already six years old. emily_andrews@mrn.co.uk | 
