RYANAIR TODAY STEPPED in to get the stranded mother of sick twins home for Christmas.
The airline offered Audrey Murnane and her daughter Maya courtesy special assistance flights from Gatwick Airport.
Audrey told TheJournal.ie that herself and Maya were “on their way to Gatwick in a taxi, rushing to make the flights” and she will update later.
Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:
We are happy to be able to help Audrey and Maya get home. We wish the family a very happy Christmas and our very best wishes for 2014.
This evening, after a trip to Cork University Hospital, Maya and Zoe will be reunited, with Maya’s temperature beginning to come down.
Audrey posted this picture to the Help Zoe and Maya Facebook page.
Zoe and Maya Murnane had spent the last week in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and were due to fly home on Sunday night.
However, upon boarding the plane, Maya became ill.
The girls’ mother Audrey says that she was told to take Maya to hospital and says she was “assured” by Aer Lingus staff that she would be allowed board a later flight.
“We were asked to disembark the aircraft by the pilot and Aer Lingus staff, for fear that Maya’s condition and illness would worsen inflight, which may have resulted in an emergency landing.
“Poor Maya worsened considerably after this point and got sick profusely.
“Needless to say – I was glad that we were in a position to transport Maya to the closest hospital immediately.”
Zoe was taken home by relatives, but Audrey says Aer Lingus are now refusing to allow Maya fly unless medical paperwork is filled out, meaning the twins will be apart for what Audrey called “their first real Christmas”.
“Hollingdon Hospital, are not in a position, never was or will be, to complete the paperwork Aer Lingus is now requesting in order for us to return home.”
“My baby Zoe is in a different Country to me, after an invasive procedure just five days ago, and I am unable to be there to care for her.
“I will have to spend Christmas, New Years and days after, in an airport hotel, with Maya unwell and running a high temperature and unable to eat….apart from Zoe, who is in Ireland.”
An Aer Lingus spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that the company does not comment on individual cases, but confirmed that there are cases where a passenger will be required to have medical clearance to fly.
This is designed primarily to protect passenger safety, but also to prevent delays and diversions.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say