Firefighter with terminal throat cancer refused WorkCover due to 'massive' flaw

Working on the frontline battling the Black Saturday fires and at the Hazelwood Mine fire, Simon Lund has spent almost 30 years saving Victorian lives and property.

But breathing in all that smoke took a toll on his health.

Now Lund is in palliative care after being diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer in March last year.

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With limited time left, Lund is trying to prepare his family's finances, but his WorkCover claim was initially knocked back because his role as a technical field officer didn't meet the requirements for compensation.

When his claim was refused, Lund says it uncovered what he says is a drastic flaw in presumptive legislation, which means it's presumed a certain type of cancer is work related unless proven otherwise.

"It's got a massive gap in regards to other frontline people that aren't on it - my role, including other roles like vegetation management officers," Lund said.

"We were all breathing in the same air."

Lund is now fighting to make sure other workers who may suffer the same fate are protected.

Watch the full video in the player above.