Syrian refugees get places at medical school

TWO teenage Syrian refugees celebrated their A-level results yesterday after they achieved the top grades they needed to take up their places at medical school.

Sulaiman Wihba and Elias Badin both won scholarships to study at Brighton College, after fleeing their war-torn country two years ago.

Mr Wihba, 19, who reached the UK after travelling through Europe and stowing away in a refrigerated van packed with boxes of frozen chips, achieved four A*s in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry, earning him a place at Queen Mary University of London.

Meanwhile, Mr Badin, who escaped from Syria by travelling to Greece on a small boat with 40 refugees packed on board, achieved A* in maths and As in further maths, physics and chemistry.

He said that before his family managed to leave Syria, his father collapsed, which inspired him to study medicine.

“It has been incredible coming to Brighton College, one of the best schools in the country. I am so grateful,” he said.

“The trip out of Syria was bad. Before we left my father collapsed and it is that which inspired me to want to do medicine. He was very seriously ill, suffering from low blood pressure, and that made me want to be a doctor.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to go back but it would be nice to give something back.”