Brit family ‘knocked out with poison and robbed as they slept in their caravan on way to Disneyland Paris’
Dad admitted to hospital for five days after mysterious rash and blisters appear on legs
A BRIT family is convinced thieves drugged them as they slept in their caravan en-route to Disneyland Paris before stealing £1,000 worth of their belongings.
Fiona and Andrew Plews fear some type of gas was pumped into their locked caravan - knocking them and their two young children unconscious, before thieves forced their way inside.
Andrew was later admitted to a high dependency hospital unit after suffering a rash and blistering on his leg, which he suspects was a reaction to the gas.
The 40-year-old, from of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, said: "All the things that happened - you couldn't make up. We are 99 per cent sure we had been gassed because we would have heard something.
"It didn't seem real. It wasn't until later on we realised they could have done anything - we could have found these two [children] gone. It was scary."
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Recalling their horror holiday, Fiona, 37, said the journey to Paris had been delayed by two hours because of a broken ramp on the ferry.
The couple, their daughter Megan, 10, and their son Adam, seven, stopped at the service station and parked between two lorries at about 4am to get some sleep.
They said they woke up several hours later to find the door wide open and their possessions gone.
Fiona said: "Megan woke up at 7.50am and asked why the caravan door was open.
"My handbag was on the cooker but was gone and we found the car keys outside."
The caravan door lock had been forced with a screwdriver and about £1,000 worth of items taken, including tablets and a watch.
Although the family reached Disneyland Paris, Andrew's health began to deteriorate and he was forced to seek medical help at a nearby hospital.
He spent five days being treated for a number of symptoms including a rash and blisters on his leg.
Lieutenant-Colonel Philippe Marestin, of the Gendarmerie Nationale, said that a report of the incident was made to French Police and is under investigation.
The robbery happened when the family-of-four were on their way to Disneyland Paris in August - but they only revealed the details recently following a visit by a star of Channel 5's Police Interceptors.
A neighbour told the Durham and Cleveland Specialist Operations Unit about their wrecked holiday and Megan and Adam were treated to a surprise visit by Damo Stevens.
Fiona added: "It was good to see the smiles on their faces."
A number of similar crimes have been reported in France - most famously former F1 driver Jenson Button and his ex-wife Jessica were gassed in their holiday villa before burglars stole her £250,000 engagement ring.
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