Parents ripped from us’

PROUD parents Denis and Elaine Thwaites died on Sousse beach just months after this happy snap at daughter Lindsey’s wedding.

She flew out to Tunisia to frantically search for them after they failed to get in touch following the massacre.

Former Birmingham City player Denis, 70, and Elaine, 69, had been enjoying a holiday there when gunman Rezgui struck. Lindsey says she and husband Daniel, of Blackpool, have endured a harrowing 12 months since.

“My mum and dad were tragically ripped from us,” she said. “We constantly ask ‘why them?’ But there are no answers. They were beautiful, kind people. They were my rocks.” The family is among 17 represented by law firm Irwin Mitchell. They claim travel giant TUI Group ignored security warnings and put the victims at risk through ‘unhappy and unfair’ practices.

They allege the tour operator failed to pass on Foreign Office warnings to customers about unstable security in the North African country following an earlier terror attack. TUI is also accused of cutting prices to encourage bookings.

The allegations are outlined in legal papers submitted to the Tunisia inquests which have been delayed until next year. TUI’s lawyers have rejected claims about the company’s pricing strategies and that it was obliged to share FCO travel advice.