ianstone
06-07-2010, 04:46 PM
Soldier burnt in Afghanistan explosion refused a holiday refund after being forced to cancel
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 11:56 AM on 7th June 2010
Comments (154) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284630/Lance-Sergeant-David-Hesketh-burnt-Afghanistan-explosion-refused-holiday-refund-forced-cancel.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284630/Lance-Sergeant-David-Hesketh-burnt-Afghanistan-explosion-refused-holiday-refund-forced-cancel.html)
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/06/07/article-1284630-09EDAA75000005DC-272_233x363.jpg Gutted: 'I can't help that I was injured,' says soldier David Hesketh after travel agents refused to refund his cancelled holiday
A hero soldier badly injured while fighting for his country in Afghanistan has been left £700 out of pocket after travel agents refused to refund his cancelled holiday.
Lance Sergeant David Hesketh was due to fly out to Majorca with his wife Heather on June 20.
He had been due back to the UK for a two-week break from the frontline in time for the holiday and Heather, 30, had planned the four-day getaway as a surprise.
But the 36-year-old, from Penwortham, Preston, suffered severe burns in a blast in Helmand Province last month and spent two weeks in a military hospital.
His injuries are so severe he cannot expose them to UV light for at least 12 months.
But when his wife tried to cancel the holiday, London-based Fleetway Travel refused to give them a penny back, or even allow them to change the names on the booking.
David, who is recovering from his injuries at home, said: 'I'm gutted. I can't help that I was injured.
'Heather told them I couldn't travel because I wasn't 100%.
'Majorca is going to be hot and I'm not going to be able to sit out in the sun.
'We tried cancelling the holiday but the unfortunate thing is that we didn't take out insurance.'
More...
Two British soldiers killed in firefight in Afghanistan are named (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1284177/Two-British-soldiers-killed-firefight-Afghanistan.html)
Meet Mrs I Hate Thomas Cook! Worker furious at holiday firm changes her name by deed poll (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284593/Meet-Mrs-I-Hate-Thomas-Cook-Worker-furious-holiday-firm-changes-deed-poll.html)
Heather had paid £691.52 for the four-night break in Arenal, staying all-inclusive in the luxury five-star Serano Palace Hotel.
The mum-of-three told Fleetway Travel two days after David's accident on May 5 that they would not be able to travel, but the company refused to give a full refund.
David, who has a three-year-old daughter Charlotte and two stepchildren, Jack and Sophie, added: 'We just wanted to have a break to relax. It had been a hard tour and Heather was going to surprise me with it when I came home on leave. Then Fleetway told us that as a goodwill gesture they would give us part of the money back if we sent them an email. They wouldn't let us change the names, so we couldn't sell it on. But when we sent the message they sent us an email back saying the offer had expired and they're not going to give us anything. It's just not fair.'
David had flown out to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion Scots Guards for a six-month tour of duty in January.
But he suffered 20% burns when a canister of insecticide exploded on an Army base.
The former Priory High School pupil was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham for treatment to his arms, legs, back and chest.
He added: 'I've still got blisters and my leg is still bleeding under the bandages.'
A spokesman for Fleetway Travel said: 'Whilst we genuinely sympathise with Mr Hesketh's situation, we do encourage clients to take out travel insurance to cover any eventualities that may occur which prevents them from travelling.
'In line with our terms and conditions at this stage the cancellation fee is 100%. We would be happy to assist with the appropriate documentation if Mr Hesketh wishes to initiate a claim to recover his money through travel insurance.
'Finally, we wish Mr Hesketh a speedy and full recovery.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284630/Lance-Sergeant-David-Hesketh-burnt-Afghanistan-explosion-refused-holiday-refund-forced-cancel.html#ixzz0qCaQqAd3
They love the soldier as long as it does not cost them any money, utter bastards ! !
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 11:56 AM on 7th June 2010
Comments (154) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284630/Lance-Sergeant-David-Hesketh-burnt-Afghanistan-explosion-refused-holiday-refund-forced-cancel.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284630/Lance-Sergeant-David-Hesketh-burnt-Afghanistan-explosion-refused-holiday-refund-forced-cancel.html)
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/06/07/article-1284630-09EDAA75000005DC-272_233x363.jpg Gutted: 'I can't help that I was injured,' says soldier David Hesketh after travel agents refused to refund his cancelled holiday
A hero soldier badly injured while fighting for his country in Afghanistan has been left £700 out of pocket after travel agents refused to refund his cancelled holiday.
Lance Sergeant David Hesketh was due to fly out to Majorca with his wife Heather on June 20.
He had been due back to the UK for a two-week break from the frontline in time for the holiday and Heather, 30, had planned the four-day getaway as a surprise.
But the 36-year-old, from Penwortham, Preston, suffered severe burns in a blast in Helmand Province last month and spent two weeks in a military hospital.
His injuries are so severe he cannot expose them to UV light for at least 12 months.
But when his wife tried to cancel the holiday, London-based Fleetway Travel refused to give them a penny back, or even allow them to change the names on the booking.
David, who is recovering from his injuries at home, said: 'I'm gutted. I can't help that I was injured.
'Heather told them I couldn't travel because I wasn't 100%.
'Majorca is going to be hot and I'm not going to be able to sit out in the sun.
'We tried cancelling the holiday but the unfortunate thing is that we didn't take out insurance.'
More...
Two British soldiers killed in firefight in Afghanistan are named (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1284177/Two-British-soldiers-killed-firefight-Afghanistan.html)
Meet Mrs I Hate Thomas Cook! Worker furious at holiday firm changes her name by deed poll (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284593/Meet-Mrs-I-Hate-Thomas-Cook-Worker-furious-holiday-firm-changes-deed-poll.html)
Heather had paid £691.52 for the four-night break in Arenal, staying all-inclusive in the luxury five-star Serano Palace Hotel.
The mum-of-three told Fleetway Travel two days after David's accident on May 5 that they would not be able to travel, but the company refused to give a full refund.
David, who has a three-year-old daughter Charlotte and two stepchildren, Jack and Sophie, added: 'We just wanted to have a break to relax. It had been a hard tour and Heather was going to surprise me with it when I came home on leave. Then Fleetway told us that as a goodwill gesture they would give us part of the money back if we sent them an email. They wouldn't let us change the names, so we couldn't sell it on. But when we sent the message they sent us an email back saying the offer had expired and they're not going to give us anything. It's just not fair.'
David had flown out to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion Scots Guards for a six-month tour of duty in January.
But he suffered 20% burns when a canister of insecticide exploded on an Army base.
The former Priory High School pupil was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham for treatment to his arms, legs, back and chest.
He added: 'I've still got blisters and my leg is still bleeding under the bandages.'
A spokesman for Fleetway Travel said: 'Whilst we genuinely sympathise with Mr Hesketh's situation, we do encourage clients to take out travel insurance to cover any eventualities that may occur which prevents them from travelling.
'In line with our terms and conditions at this stage the cancellation fee is 100%. We would be happy to assist with the appropriate documentation if Mr Hesketh wishes to initiate a claim to recover his money through travel insurance.
'Finally, we wish Mr Hesketh a speedy and full recovery.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284630/Lance-Sergeant-David-Hesketh-burnt-Afghanistan-explosion-refused-holiday-refund-forced-cancel.html#ixzz0qCaQqAd3
They love the soldier as long as it does not cost them any money, utter bastards ! !