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| Bristol family devastated after disabled son's van stolen | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tim renovated the van so that it could be easily accessible for their 13-year-old son who has a disability | |
| A family have been left devastated after their van, which they say has been a "lifeline" since their disabled son had a stroke, was stolen. | |
| Amy said she could not believe it when they received an automated email saying the van was being driven on Saturday. | |
| She said the loss "feels like being punched" and means the Bristol family cannot go on holidays and take respite. | |
| Police said inquiries were ongoing and people with information should come forward. | |
| The family are offering a reward for information on the theft | The family are offering a reward for information on the theft |
| "We got an email from the van to say its engine started at 01:23 on Saturday," the 43-year-old said. | |
| "We came home [from visiting family] as soon as possible because we were very nervous someone could be in the house. Thankfully no-one was there. | |
| "When our child had a stroke we lived in Bristol children's hospital for six months. The van helped us escape what had happened as a family. | "When our child had a stroke we lived in Bristol children's hospital for six months. The van helped us escape what had happened as a family. |
| "It was and still is our lifeline." | "It was and still is our lifeline." |
| Amy said the family were "devastated" | Amy said the family were "devastated" |
| Her husband Tim fixed the van up himself, making sure a wheelchair could be kept inside and the bunk beds were accessible. | |
| He said he spent years designing it to make sure it was suitable for the needs of their 13-year-old son. | |
| "I'm in a mixture of disbelief and grief - it was a member of our family," he said. | "I'm in a mixture of disbelief and grief - it was a member of our family," he said. |
| "It was packed full of watersports equipment and we were due to go away in it on Wednesday." | "It was packed full of watersports equipment and we were due to go away in it on Wednesday." |
| The family have put a call out on social media for anyone who spots it to come forward and have offered a cash reward for information. | The family have put a call out on social media for anyone who spots it to come forward and have offered a cash reward for information. |
| An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: "Inquiries are ongoing following the theft of a vehicle in Sea Mills over the weekend." | |
| They asked anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area to contact them. | They asked anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area to contact them. |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Disability | Disability |
| Strokes | Strokes |
| Bristol | Bristol |