LEON’S DREAM HOLIDAY TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE
A DREAM holiday turned into a nightmare for cerebral palsy patient Leon Mason when he suffered a collapsed lung that could have killed him.
After seven days in hospital things got worse. Returning from the US, flight TOM375 was forced to turn around after two stewardesses collapsed because of “carbon monoxide”.
The 15-year-old, who is quadriplegic and cannot speak, was visiting Orlando’s Disney World with his family.
After a few days the teen, who uses a wheelchair, fell ill and was rushed to hospital.
“I had a call from my wife who was crying,” his dad David said. “I asked, ‘What’s the matter?’ and she said he had suffered a collapsed lung and they had to operate in an hour.” His boy could have died. “I was going to bed every night crying because I was thinking about what could happen,” the 65-year-old said.
“It was frightening and we just wanted to get back to Wales.”
On being told Leon, from Pontypool, Torfaen, was fit to fly they booked themselves aboard a TUI Dreamliner.
Mum Angela Mason said: “We were sitting down in normal seats at the back. There were spare seats so Leon was able to stretch out, which does not normally happen.
“We sat down and the air stewardesses were amazing, giving us cups of tea and asking us if there was anything we needed.
“As soon as we got off the runway I was thinking, ‘Thank God we are going home.’” Angela did not stay relaxed. “One of the hostesses at the back started screaming that she couldn’t breathe,” the 58-year-old said.
“With that she stopped screaming and passed out.”
Seconds later a stewardess on the other side of the aisle collapsed.
Someone pressed an emergency alarm. Staff raced from the other end of the plane.
“Leon started screaming, which is not like him,” Angela said.
“An elderly couple by the window started feeling sick. It was going down the plane because other people started saying they felt sick.”
Leon has had an operation that prevents him from vomiting.
“But David started retching,” Angela said. “I told him to stop because I needed his help with Leon.” The mum-of-four glanced out the window. “What the hell is going on?” a couple nearby said.
The jet was dumping fuel over the Atlantic so it could turn around.
Back at Florida’s Sanford airport firefighters boarded. Quickly they donned gas masks and ordered everyone off.
Leon’s wheelchair was in the hold. David told them the aisle needed to be cleared so he could be carried off.
The family said the firemen refused to let them off.
When they finally disembarked there was nowhere for Leon to go. He was laid on the cold floor with only a pillow for his head.
The next day they caught another flight. The same staff were on board. One of the stewardesses told them the leak was carbon monoxide. Another passenger who was hospitalised was told by a doctor they may have suffered “smoke exposure”.
Appalled by their treatment they contacted lawyers Bott and Co.
“The Mason family underwent a horrific ordeal while on holiday, only then to face fur- ther turmoil on their flight home,” the firm’s Coby Benson said.
“Under EU regulations the airline was obliged to provide food, drink and overnight accommodation to all the passengers involved, and pay particular attention to any passengers with reduced mobility.
“The airline flouted these rules, forcing the family to sleep in awful conditions at the airport and fend for themselves.”
He said the airline should have provided each of the family with €600 compensation for the delay.
“Thomson continuously ignored correspondence and only finally paid out once specialist solicitors were instructed to issue court proceedings against the airline,” Mr Benson said.
TUI, formerly Thomson, apologised “any inconvenience” on last May’s flight.
“This was as a precautionary measure due to two crew members and a small number of customers who reported feeling unwell,” a spokesman said.
“A full investigation was carried out; however, there was no evidence to support that the symptoms were caused by the aircraft.
“At all times the safety of our customers and crew, which is always our top priority, was maintained.
“We are unable to comment on any specific cases; however, we can confirm that in this instance due to an administrative error the situation with Mr Mason has been resolved and payment raised.” for