A former WA police officer left severely disabled by illness contracted in the line of duty has been awarded $6 million by the Barnett government after it agreed to top up its original offer.
Constable Ryan Marron contracted the mosquito-borne Murray Valley encephalitis virus while working in the remote Balgo community in the Kimberley in 2011.
![Ryan Marron with his partner Toni Misitano.](/web/20170428212648im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/p/w/o/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsx2cq.png/1479979946938.jpg)
He was not expected to survive, but woke from a coma with brain injuries that affected his ability to move and speak.
The state government originally offered Constable Marron a $5.5 ex-gratia payment in March, but the family pleaded for more money, saying it wouldn't cover his around-the-clock care.
The Barnett government put out a statement on Thursday afternoon saying it had revised Mr Marron's payment and he would now get $6 million.
"On further discussion with Ryan's father and Ryan's legal team, including a meeting with the Public Trustee, the Government has increased its payment to $6 million," Attorney General Michael Mischin said in a release.
"This amount is higher than any ex-gratia payment made by the state government, and that is because we carefully considered and included additional funds towards future legal and administration fees.
"The state government wants to ensure Ryan receives maximum benefit from these funds and he and his family have as much peace of mind, as possible, in a challenging situation."
Ryan Marron's father Tom said back in March his son's life changed in the blink of an eye.
He said anyone parent would fight to make sure their children were looked after for the rest of their lives.
"They are your children for life ... anyone would do the same thing," he said.
" There is medical services and physiotherapy and hydrotherapy and motor vehicles, loss of that income, super, the normal working stuff.
"If you put these principles in front of a court as they do with any insurance case he would have received that full amount."