A LITTLE boy left catastrophically disabled by a medical blunder just days after his birth has won multi-million-pound compensation from the NHS.

In a double tragedy, the boy was also born suffering from grave lung condition, cystic fibrosis, and lives at constant risk of suffocation.

The boy, now five, was born with a bowel obstruction in Bradford in 2014 and was transferred for treatment to Leeds General Infirmary.

There, a further complication developed and he went under the surgeon's knife when less than a week old, London's High Court heard.

The operation was performed competently, but a major vein was torn, leading to a "life-threatening bleed", said the judge, Sir Robert Francis QC.

And the problem was not spotted in time to save the lad from multiple cardiac arrests and "gross and highly serious" brain damage.

As though that was not tragedy enough, the judge said the baby boy was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

The boy's barrister, Henry Witcomb QC, described him as one of the most severely disabled children he had encountered in his long career.

A victim of cerebral palsy, he cannot walk, talk or lift his head and is almost completely blind, the court heard.

The boy's lawyers sued the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which admitted liability and today agreed to a final settlement of his case.

On top of a £2.1 million lump sum, he will receive index-linked and tax-free annual payments to cover the cost of the 24-hour care he will need for life.

Those payments will start at £170,000 a year, rising in steps to a maximum of £275,000 a year, depending on how long he lives, the court heard.

And the judge said that, had his life expectancy not been shortened, the lump sum would have been much bigger.

NHS counsel, Margaret Bowron QC, said the trust was pleased a settlement had been reached without the need for a contested trial.

"This little boy has had an enormous amount to contend with in his short life", she added, partly due to nature and partly to clinical negligence.

"His parents have really put their lives on hold to care for him. He is a gutsy little boy who does all that he possibly can in very difficult circumstances."

Apologising for the negligent care that he received, the barrister wished the boy and his family a happier future.

Approving the settlement, Sir Robert said the boy's parents had given him "outstanding care despite many hardships."

"This young man, with all his difficulties, does have the blessing of a devoted family," he told the court.

Speaking to the father, he added: "I want to thank you personally for all the care that you have given and to wish you and your family the best for the future."

The judge said that, because of what happened to his son, there had been a "complete breakdown in trust" between the father and the NHS.

But he expressed the hope that, with the case settled, bridges would now be built so that the NHS could help the family and learn lessons from the case.