Crossword Genius

Victor gets sick after a helping (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

availing

'helping' is the definition.
(availing is a kind of helping)

'victor gets sick after a' is the wordplay.
'victor' becomes 'v' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'gets' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'sick' becomes 'ailing' ('ailing' can be similar in meaning to 'sick'**).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'v'+'ailing' is 'vailing'.
'vailing' after 'a' is 'AVAILING'.

(Other definitions for availing that I've seen before include "Making use of" , "Profiting from" , "Female (one Heather) > helping" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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