27 February 2023 , 22:43
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A disabled plane passenger who was forced to drag himself on to a coach when his flight was diverted says he was “humiliated” by the experience.
Spencer Watts, 27, had been flying home from a holiday in Lanzarote earlier this month when his Ryanair flight to Bristol was diverted to Birmingham.
After being assured by the cabin crew assistance on the ground had been arranged, he and his family found no transport was available at the time.
As a result Spencer, from Tiverton, South Devon, had to climb backwards onto the coach in front of watching passengers on his hands.
He said: “I [felt] so embarrassed and humiliated in terms of having to do that in a crowded audience of people.
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Video showed the dad climbing up and down the stairs (Kennedy News & Media)
Spencer said he was "humiliated" by the experience (Kennedy News & Media)"Pressure sores are a big thing for us [people with disabilities]. Being put in that kind of situation, where I have to shuffle across a bare floor, there's obviously a very high risk of me getting a pressure sore and becoming bedbound for at least a few months.
"It's not a good thing. It's not exactly a comfortable manoeuvre for me to have to drag myself along the floor.
"Not only am I in a wheelchair, but the son I was with is also severely autistic, so change is a massive thing for him.
"And when he's seeing his dad bum shuffling on a coach, a child worries about the fears of anything could happen.
Spencer Watts with his family, Shaunna, Oliver and Elliot (Kennedy News & Media)"So he's like, 'Dad, what if there's a fire on this coach, how are you going to get off?'
"It was a concern for my whole family, it wasn't just me.
"The upset, and the uproar for my family, all of us, wasn't needed and could have been avoided really easily.
"I would not fly with Ryanair again until I get an apology from them. They failed their duty of care."
Before boarding the coach the dad-of-two had visited the main desk where he claims an advisor said Ryanair had not made the ground handler aware he needed extra support.
Spencer said he wants an apology from Ryanair (Kennedy News & Media)Spencer then approached the four coach drivers waiting in the bay directly to see if there was anything they could do to help - but with no luck.
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Spencer added: “My assistance at the airport had been booked a month in advance.
"They were fully aware that there was someone on that aircraft in a wheelchair that needed assistance on and off the aeroplane.
"I was left with no option but to bum shuffle onto a coach.
Spencer says Ryanair was aware of his needs (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)A Ryanair spokesperson said: "This flight from Alicante to Bristol (17 Feb) diverted to Birmingham due to adverse weather conditions at Bristol Airport.
"Special assistance at Birmingham Airport is managed by a third-party provider - not Ryanair.
"As the flight was not planned to arrive at Birmingham Airport, special assistance at Birmingham Airport had not been pre-arranged, however the crew of this flight requested special assistance upon arrival at Birmingham Airport, which the provider at Birmingham Airport failed to provide."
Birmingham Airport have been contacted for a comment.