A man who claimed a minor car accident left him unable to work and requiring surgery posted photographs of himself on Facebook swinging from a zipwire while on holiday in Mexico.

Ferenc Kirinovits, 45, from Lakenham - who also uploaded images of himself hanging upside down from a rope and riding a quad bike - tried to claim £22,000 for his injuries and lost income.

Eastern Daily Press: A judge threw out Ferenc Kirinovits insurance claim saying he had exaggerated any injuriesA judge threw out Ferenc Kirinovits insurance claim saying he had exaggerated any injuries (Image: Clyde & Co LLP)

However, a judge at Norwich County Court threw out the coach driver’s claim saying he had exaggerated any injuries to the point of criminal dishonesty.

Kirinovits had been driving a car on the A11 near Attleborough in August 2016 when it was hit by another vehicle.

Insurer AXA UK, which represented the other driver, did not dispute liability but was suspicious about the claimed severity of his injuries.

Kirinovits alleged whiplash and prolapsed discs in his spine meant he had been unable to work for three months, could not clean, garden or go to the gym and was unable to swim or play football. 

READ MORE: Great Yarmouth builder fraudulently claimed £500k for falls

He later underwent surgery on the recommendation of a private spinal assessment carried out in Budapest.

Eastern Daily Press: Ferenc Kirinovits was also pictured swimming and while on holiday in MexicoFerenc Kirinovits was also pictured swimming and while on holiday in Mexico (Image: Clyde & Co LLP)

However, investigators working for law firm Clyde & Co, on behalf of AXA UK, found social media posts by Kirinovits and his wife while on holiday in Mexico in February 2019, six months before his surgery.

They showed him climbing ladders and ropes, riding a quad bike, using a zip wire, jumping off a cliff into a river and swimming.

In court, Kirinovits claimed that he had been told he might not be able to engage in sports after surgery so wanted to enjoy them one final time.

Eastern Daily Press: Ferenc Kirinovits claimed his injuries unable to clean, garden or attend the gym, but was pictured climbing ladders and ropesFerenc Kirinovits claimed his injuries unable to clean, garden or attend the gym, but was pictured climbing ladders and ropes (Image: Clyde & Co LLP)

But District Judge Jacqueline Raggett ruled his claim was “fundamentally dishonest” as, although he had been injured, he could not prove his prolapsed discs or surgery were caused by the accident.

AXA UK is now entitled to recover legal costs estimated to be about £12,000.

Chris Walsh, commercial claims director, said: “Insurance fraud is a serious crime which has significant consequences for fraudsters but sadly also results in higher insurance premiums for honest customers as insurers are faced with increased costs.”

Latest figures show that in 2021 UK insurers detected 89,000 dishonest insurance claims valued at £1.1bn.

The industry estimates a similar amount of fraud goes undetected each year.