Story By:  Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub Editor:  Joseph Golder,  Agency: Central European News

This Russian painter has received over 264,000 GBP in compensation after bizarrely injuring his finger on a can of fish in a bin.

Famed Russian painter Nikas Safronov, 64, known for his painting, has revealed he received 320,000 USD (264,100 GBP) from his insurance company after injuring his finger in a bizarre accident.

Safronov told TV programme ‘The Secret Worth Millions’ broadcast by NTV in Russia: “I ate some sprats and threw the can in the bin. In the morning I was throwing away some sketches and I tried to ram them into the bin to get more in and cut my finger on the can.”

He said his finger became inflamed so he went to the doctor who prescribed him some pills which did nothing to help.

He then went to a surgeon and underwent three operations without the correct diagnosis.

He said the surgeons pinned catheters “all over” his body, saying eventually “the finger was saved, but the bones did not come together. The finger does not bend, but I can hold the paintbrush normally.”

Safronov said his insurance company paid him the compensation as he has his hands, eyes and life insured for a total of 1,000,000 USD (825,400 GBP), with the artist paying around 23,000 USD (19,000 GBP) for the policy every year.

In 2013, he was given the title of Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation and his Dream Vision paintings have been hung worldwide.

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