Model, 30, thrown off easyJet flight at London Gatwick after having epileptic fit – even though paramedics cleared her to fly
Helen Stephens was going to a wedding in Greece when she was forced to leave plane
A WOMAN travelling to a friend's wedding in Greece says she was thrown off an easyJet flight after having an epileptic seizure - despite paramedics saying she could fly.
Model Helen Stephens claims she had a seizure lasting only seconds - but was still forced to collect her hand luggage and march off the plane.
She told : "After having a seizure and feeling a bit silly anyway. I had to walk up the aisle and pack my books back into my rucksack, and my passport and everything.
" I felt like a naughty schoolgirl dismissed from class. I felt like I'd made a spectacle of myself.
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"If I had to be stretchered off the plane and taken to hospital, I could completely understand that, but a walking talking person who can get up and pack her passport away and then get off the plane - it was really embarrassing."
Paramedics attending the scene judged her fit to fly but they were overruled by the concerned pilot.
EasyJet offered her a replacement flight 24 hours later and a place to stay.
A spokesperson for easyJet told The Sun Online: "The captain was concerned about a passenger following a seizure during boarding and so we transferred her on to a flight tomorrow in line with medical guidance.
"The health and wellbeing of the passenger was our primary concern. We provided her with overnight accommodation and have rebooked her to travel tomorrow.
"Our in-house medical team advise that internationally agreed protocol is that it is not advisable to fly within 24 hours of a convulsion without medical clearance."
However, Helen insists the company needs to review its policies for customers with disabilities or medical conditions.
She told The Independent she would still make it to Greece in time for the wedding, but had missed out on part of her holiday.
She added: “There are different severities of epilepsy. It happens in myriad ways and they should listen to health professionals and to people with epilepsy. They didn’t listen to me.
“I think easyJet need to be aware of how their staff handle disabilities, especially ones as common as epilepsy, and listen to their customers.
“I’m a customer, I said I was fine, I looked fine, the paramedics said I was fine. I’ll still make it in time for the wedding, but I was also looking forward to having a few days away and having a holiday.”
Simon Wigglesworth, Epilepsy Action deputy chief executive, told The Sun Online: "We were sorry to hear Helen was unwell before boarding the flight. Naturally, this was a very distressing experience.
"Epilepsy is a varied condition which affects everyone in very different ways. Some people can recover from a seizure in minutes while some can take much longer.
"This is very much down to the individual and they know their condition better than anyone. We are not aware of any evidence to suggest flying is harmful for people with epilepsy."
"However, we recognise airlines have a duty of care towards everyone on board. We urge travel companies to ensure that their staff are trained in epilepsy first aid so they know what to do if someone has a seizure and how to make them safe.”
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