A man was questioned by police and slapped with a fine after his disabled mother-in-law slipped on a raised floor panel at Manchester Airport.
David Hardie was outraged after Christine Donnelly fell flat on her face in Terminal One – and claimed no staff tried to help her.
He confronted an airport manager to ask why the area – where an escalator was being replaced - had not been cordoned off and questioned why nobody had come to her aid.
When his pleas were dismissed, he swore at a supervisor in anger and the police were called.
Courier company boss David, 45, from Wythenshawe, said: “It was diabolical. The thing that angered me was that a group of staff and workmen were all standing by and doing nothing. She was in agony on the floor and nobody asked if she was OK.
“I just can't believe that they called the police yet didn't phone an ambulance. It is totally shocking and when the cops turned up they seemed to think the situation was ridiculous too – and were more concerned about Christine than anything - but said they had no option but to fine me because the airport had complained.”
Today, airport bosses apologised to Mrs Donnelly for any 'distress' and reassured her family, who may now take legal action, that the floor had been fixed.
But the grandmother-of-three, 60, said: “They left me in real pain and it was horrendous.
“At first I was in shock, thinking how on earth did that happen? But then I realised the ground was uneven. They had stuck some tape over the panel but it was clear and hard to notice.
“The worst thing was that I was left in pain but staff only came over when David confronted them. He was treated like a criminal yet was only sticking up for me – it seemed very harsh.”
Mrs Donnelly, a widow from Bredbury, was travelling back from Malaga with her family.
They were walking towards passport control when she tripped leaving the children upset, according to Mrs Donnelly, who suffers from arthritis and walks with a stick.
She was taken to hospital by her family where doctors told her she had suffered bad bruising to her knee and hip.
“I waited a few minutes but when I realised they weren't going to help I started to direct passengers away from the area and warn them of the danger because we couldn't see any warning signs,” David added.
“I asked the workers what they were playing at – I was completely reasonable and then asked to see their boss. When he came over he didn't say sorry and I swore at him. The next thing I know the police turned up.
“Christine was lucky her injuries weren't worse. If she hadn't fallen on her bag, she'd have smashed her face in.”
A spokesman for GMP confirmed Mr Hardie had been issued with an £80 on the spot fine for a public order offence but said no further action would be taken against him.
A Manchester Airport spokeswoman insisted staff had offered her help three times but the assistance was refused.
She said: “We are extremely sorry for any distress caused to Mrs Donnelly.
“Customer service staff attended the scene as soon as they were made aware of the incident and the offer of medical assistance was made three times and was refused.
“In regards to the reaction of Mr Hardie, while we understand that he was upset at what had happened, abusive and aggressive behaviour towards our staff will not be tolerated and the police were called to attend."
Son-in-law’s slip of the tongue costs him in airport fall drama
September 30, 2010
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Not suprised. Manchester Airport has some of the least helpful or caring people I have ever met at an airport. I have lost count of amount of times I have heard complaints in the airport and have heard it reffered to as worse than a third world airport. Not exactly the welcoming face of Manchester we would wish to portray is it.
Hope that Mrs Donelly is well now.
Last week I was picking my sister up from the train station at the airport. An elderly lady had fallen on the escalator. The rail staff were very helpful but as the area is covered by the airport, we had to wait for the customer relations manager to arrive. We waited at least half an hour and then when she arrived she was brief and left. No provision was made to ensure that the lady and her luggage were safely escorted to T1. It was my sister and myself who asked for an ambulance to check the lady out. The approach of the airport member of staff was far from friendly or concerned. It is worrying that she is the contact with customers. The care and attention that the rail staff provided put the airport to shame.
I'd like to hear the Airport's version of events - not just a statement. I suspect I know what they 'd have to say.
Never mind, though, Mrs Donelly: you'll get your 'compo'.
Sounds like some compo is on its way and possibly some training for the useless Manchester staff. The sad thing is the staff in scouseland treat customers better than the ones in manchester.
Stupid people on this site who have the compo syndrome...be real this is a serious accident that should have been avoided, & a trained health & safety officer on duty during the repairs.The person over-seeing the repairs should be in court not the person who dared to complain. Why was it wrong to confront these staff member's about their callous behaviour,they made a legal issue out of this when they called the police!!!
When will be people cotton on that the whole terrorist con has renedered anybody to do with aviation as sacrosanct. Manchester airport is peopled by snooty, self-important jobsworths. It's about the worst airport I have ever been in.
No Doubt they will say that they have cctv of the event and are happy that their stff acted properly.
Of course they wont release the cctv
I was held up at Manchester during one of their security checks as I´d just arrived on a flight from the middle east to connect to Paris. I realized that due to their total rudeness and obvious ignorance on some extremely trivial matters, i.e visa´s etc., even though I have a British passport and didn´t need a visa, it was possible I would miss my connecting flight. However, then they would have had to remove my baggage which takes anything upto an hour. When they let me go - with an apology - I took my time to stroll to the departure gate, and the flight missed it´s take-off slot because they couldn´t leave without me. Snigger.
I HAD BEEN LOOKING FORWARD 2 MY TRIP 2 MANCHESTER . UNTILL I HAD 2 SHOW MY PASSPORT 2 A RUDE FOOL HE SAID YOU SHOULD TELL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY YOU LIVE IN HOW 2 SPELL ALTRICHAM. THE PLACE I WAS BORN. I DIDNT SAY ANYTHING 2 HIM BECAUSE I DIDNT WANT THIS CLOWN 2 HOLD ME UP FOR 2 LONG BUT INSIDE I WAS AS MAD AS HELL IF ONLY HE KNEW THAT I WANTED 2 LET HIM KNOW THAT HE SHOULD GO BACK 2 SCHOOL .THEY ALWAYS WANT 2 BE LITTLE HITLERS. OTHER THAT THAT I HAD A GREAT TIME IN MANCHESTER.
Simple solution David, challenge the fixed penalty in court, if more people did this the police would think twice about their love of 'Section 5'.
Clog the courts up and get rid of this summary 'JUSTICE' which is anathema to democratic society.