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Paraplegic man who dragged himself through airport to drop legal action | Paraplegic man who dragged himself through airport to drop legal action |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A paraplegic athlete who dragged himself through the arrivals terminal at Luton Airport says he is dropping his legal action as the airport has "improved their disabled facilities". | A paraplegic athlete who dragged himself through the arrivals terminal at Luton Airport says he is dropping his legal action as the airport has "improved their disabled facilities". |
Justin Levene's self-propelling wheelchair was left behind on a flight in the incident, last August. | Justin Levene's self-propelling wheelchair was left behind on a flight in the incident, last August. |
He was offered a rigid high-backed chair but refused, as he felt it removed his independence. | He was offered a rigid high-backed chair but refused, as he felt it removed his independence. |
Luton Airport now says it has 10 self-propelled wheelchairs. | Luton Airport now says it has 10 self-propelled wheelchairs. |
As well as the chairs, based permanently at the airport, the airport says its provisions include: | As well as the chairs, based permanently at the airport, the airport says its provisions include: |
'Never about money' | 'Never about money' |
Mr Levene, an international wheelchair athlete, trainer and mentor to disabled athletes, said: "If Luton now has self-propelling wheelchairs, and a loan system in case of loss or damage to a wheelchair, then I'm delighted with this outcome. | Mr Levene, an international wheelchair athlete, trainer and mentor to disabled athletes, said: "If Luton now has self-propelling wheelchairs, and a loan system in case of loss or damage to a wheelchair, then I'm delighted with this outcome. |
"This was never about money, it was about trying get a change in policy. | "This was never about money, it was about trying get a change in policy. |
"I am happy to drop my legal claim because Luton has taken on board my concerns and improved their disabled facilities for the better." | "I am happy to drop my legal claim because Luton has taken on board my concerns and improved their disabled facilities for the better." |
As well as fears about independence, Mr Levene, from north London, was concerned about pressure sores from using a rigid high-backed chair. | As well as fears about independence, Mr Levene, from north London, was concerned about pressure sores from using a rigid high-backed chair. |
He had herniated a disc when he was 20 and a subsequent operation to fix the problem went wrong, leaving him paralysed below the waist and reliant on his self-propelling wheelchair. | He had herniated a disc when he was 20 and a subsequent operation to fix the problem went wrong, leaving him paralysed below the waist and reliant on his self-propelling wheelchair. |
He said: "I hope that media coverage has helped raise awareness of issues around the mobility needs of disabled travellers. | He said: "I hope that media coverage has helped raise awareness of issues around the mobility needs of disabled travellers. |
"We simply want to get from A to B with as much dignity and independence as possible." | "We simply want to get from A to B with as much dignity and independence as possible." |
Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the result Mr Levene had achieved was "amazing". | |
"This is the reality for a lot of disabled people. You get left on planes, you get left for sometimes a couple of hours," she said. | |
"Last week I decided to crawl off a train because it didn't appear that anyone was coming to get me." | |
Mr Levene's experience has prompted disabled people to share their stories of using public transport, including being left on trains. | |
When Mr Levene's story was covered by the BBC on Friday, Luton Airport said in a statement: "On discovering that Mr Levene's flight had arrived without his wheelchair, our teams worked hard to find a solution, offering Mr Levene an assisted wheelchair as a temporary replacement. | When Mr Levene's story was covered by the BBC on Friday, Luton Airport said in a statement: "On discovering that Mr Levene's flight had arrived without his wheelchair, our teams worked hard to find a solution, offering Mr Levene an assisted wheelchair as a temporary replacement. |
"Mr Levene declined all offers of help as he deemed them unacceptable. | "Mr Levene declined all offers of help as he deemed them unacceptable. |
"While we apologise if Mr Levene was dissatisfied with the service he received, we are satisfied that our agents and staff did all they could in difficult circumstances." | "While we apologise if Mr Levene was dissatisfied with the service he received, we are satisfied that our agents and staff did all they could in difficult circumstances." |
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