ParalympicsGB chef de mission Penny Briscoe expressed her dismay at the situation where Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, an 11-time Paralympic gold medalist, had to “crawl off” a train.
Baroness Grey-Thompson, a former wheelchair racer, arrived at London’s King’s Cross on Monday evening on an LNER train but there was no assistance provided despite her booking it. She missed her scheduled 19.15 train from Leeds and had to take the 19.45 train instead.
Feeling abandoned after waiting for 20 minutes, she decided to crawl off the train, stating that she had a contract for assistance that was not fulfilled.
Briscoe, speaking from ParalympicsGB house in Paris, emphasized the challenges that disabled individuals face on a daily basis, calling for more attention to be brought to these issues.
An LNER spokesperson mentioned that they are investigating the incident and apologised for the inconvenience caused.
ParalympicsGB chef de mission Briscoe (Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Paris is hosting the Paralympics for the first time, with efforts being made to enhance accessibility in the city, particularly in the transportation and accommodation sectors.
Baroness Grey-Thompson, a highly decorated Paralympian, has raised awareness about the challenges faced by disabled individuals and the importance of creating a more inclusive society.
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(Boris Streubel/Getty Images for Laureus)