Emma Pengelly & Mary Litchfield, reporting for BBC News, share the heartbreaking story of a mother whose Make-A-Wish trip to Disneyland Paris for her terminally ill daughter, Daisy, was cancelled due to disruption in Eurostar services following the discovery of an unexploded bomb. Toni Mannion, the mother of five-year-old Daisy, expressed her disappointment as she had been eagerly anticipating creating special memories with her daughter, who has complex needs, but they were unable to find alternative transportation to France.
The discovery of a World War Two explosive near Gare du Nord station in Paris led to its defusal on Friday, with commuters being assured of the resumption of normal services by Saturday. Eurostar’s chief safety and stations officer, Simon Lejeune, extended his apologies for the inconvenience caused by the travel disruption. Daisy suffers from a rare metabolic disorder known as Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) and faces challenges such as using a wheelchair, being non-verbal, and experiencing severe epilepsy.
Ms. Mannion had made extensive plans for the trip, with the Make-A-Wish charity covering all expenses. Expressing her disappointment at the cancellation, she stated, “We were really looking forward to making some special memories with the girls. I know Make-A-Wish will look to reorganise. But it’s still a bit gutting really.” Despite the setback, some individuals stranded in Paris, like Vicky and her mother Jo, chose to embrace the situation and explore the city a little longer, turning an inconvenience into an opportunity for more adventures.
The travel chaos also affected many Britons, including Bob and Mavis from Nottingham, who faced difficulties accessing the Eurostar app to make their travel arrangements. After finally securing a train booking for Paris on Saturday, the couple shared their frustrations about the app crashing, leading them to incur additional expenses by having to stay overnight in a London hotel. The disruption caused by the unexploded bomb not only impacted the Mannion family’s long-awaited trip but also led to unexpected changes in travel plans for many others caught up in the transportation chaos
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
