Welsh sporting legend Lady Tanni Grey-Thompson faced a distressing situation when she was left unassisted on a train and resorted to crawling off the carriage at King’s Cross station in London. The former Paralympian, known for her participation in five Paralympic Games and winning a total of 16 medals, took to social media to express her frustration towards London North Eastern Railway (LNER).
Grey-Thompson’s ordeal unfolded when her train reached its destination, and there was no staff available to help her disembark. Despite sending frantic messages to LNER via Twitter, including one mentioning that cleaning crew members were on board, she received no immediate assistance. In a tweet, she detailed her experience of being left alone on the train even after the cleaning staff had left.
After multiple attempts to seek help from LNER, Grey-Thompson ultimately decided to crawl off the train by herself at 22:17, 15 minutes after the scheduled arrival time. She highlighted the lack of support from the staff, mentioning that a member of the cleaning team had offered assistance despite not being insured to do so.
Social media erupted with outrage over the treatment Grey-Thompson received, with one individual reminding LNER of their duty to assist disabled passengers. LNER acknowledged the incident and stated they were investigating the matter, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to Lady Tanni.
Grey-Thompson had been travelling to London before heading to the Paralympics set to commence in Paris. Recounting her ordeal, she shared her disappointment at the absence of any assistance upon arrival, leading her to physically maneuver her belongings off the train and onto the platform before crawling off due to the lack of accessible support.
The incident has drawn attention to the importance of adequate assistance for passengers with disabilities, sparking conversations about the need for improved accessibility and support within the transportation sector. As Grey-Thompson prepares for the Paralympics, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges individuals with disabilities may face in their everyday experiences.