Double amputee child left stranded at Gatwick Airport
Eight-year-old Tony Hudgell’s expensive wheelchair was also ‘twisted and bent’
Last updated 13th Dec 2022
A double amputee child was left stranded for five hours with his £6,500 wheelchair being ‘twisted and bent’.
Tony Hudgell’s biological parents were sentenced to ten years in prison for abusing their child.
His biological mother Jody Simpson, and her boyfriend Anthony Smith abused their child when he was just six weeks old.
Tony sustained horrific injuries at the hands of his parents that he needed both legs amputated.
He was adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell and after a family trip to Lapland, the family were caught up in the travel disruptions facing many Brits.
The family had to wait for five hours for Tony’s wheelchair to emerge from the plane, and when it did it was ‘twisted and bent’ according to the child’s mother.
Paula posted online: “Appalled with Jet2 and Gatwick Airport have been stranded for 3 hrs now with no wheelchair as its still on the plane. 3am no help. Double amputee no legs as his wheelchair is his legs. Trying to get help or assistance and nothing.”
The airline, Jet2, issued an apology online writing: “I am incredibly sorry to hear of your experience, we are currently trying to contact our team at LGW and we will look into fixing this for you.”
Replying to the message, Paula wrote: “Sorted now but 5 hours too late as far as a wheelchair user needs ignored. Assistance was booked in advance. Should have been sorted and when it did come out it was put on the conveyor belt and got twisted and bent. Full complaint on its way. Wheelchair cost us £6500 so cross.”
“All we want is his wheelchair they can keep the luggage. Totally stuck bet CEO couldn't manage without their legs it's disgraceful.
“3 hours and still waiting that's after a 4.5 hrs delay which we expected but to not have his wheelchair at the end is appalling”
Tony Hudgell is Pride of Britain award winner after he raised more than £1.7 million for Evelina London Children’s Hospital, the hospital which saved his life.