An amputee says he suffered a ‘holiday from hell’ in Turkey and has complained to a travel firm about his experiences.

Patrick Martin, 64, from St Barnabas Court, off Orchard Street, in Norwich, uses a wheelchair and crutches after having one leg amputated, and was on holiday last month for the first time since the death of his partner.

He booked the 14-day trip with Norwich’s Thomas Cook in Brigg Street and requested medical seats on the flight, which was operated by Pegasus Airways.

He said he was assured that his disability would not be a problem and he would be well looked after, but he says he started having problems on the plane.

Mr Martin said he had to sit in cramped seats away from the front rows, where there is more leg room, received no help putting his crutches and rucksack into the overhead compartment and had to stand on his crutches while waiting to use the toilet instead of being seated.

When the plane arrived in Turkey he again had to get the crutches and rucksack from the overhead compartment. While he was wheeled to the airport carousel to collect his luggage, he said he was left to drag himself and his luggage to the coach.

The holiday rep on arrival in Turkey did not even know a disabled person was on the flight, he said.

His problems continued at the hotel where he was not given an adapted room, despite being assured one.

Mr Martin, a retired pottery designer, said he wanted to raise awareness so that other people with disabilities did not have to go through the same experience.

He said: “I’m not trying to get anything out of it. I don’t want anyone else having to go through what I did. I can laugh about it now but at the time it was a nightmare.”

A spokesman for Thomas Cook said: “We’re sorry for the problems Mr Martin experienced on his Pegasus flight and he can be assured that now he’s made us aware of this issues that we’ll look into this fully with the airline.”

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