A hero who helped fight off the knifeman during the Huntingdon train mass stabbing has had his flight refund request rejected.
Stephen Crean, 61, was one of the brave members of the public who tried to protect others during the incident last Saturday, November 1.
At 6:25pm, a man began a rampage on a LNER train bound for London from Doncaster, forcing the quick-thinking driver to take an emergency stop at Huntingdon.
Mr Crean, a Nottingham Forest fan, was returning from watching a match against Manchester United when the incident unfolded.
The 61-year-old quickly took action when he heard passengers screaming on the train and proceeded through the buffet carriage.
He then encountered the assailant wielding what he described as "a great big oversized kitchen knife - it was as if it was a Japanese sword or something."
Mr Crean grabbed the attacker’s arm in the melee, allowing another passenger time to secure the buffet door, enabling others to find safety and potentially preventing dozens of additional casualties.
His heroic intervention left him badly wounded, suffering three strikes to his back, one to his behind, and two to his head.
Huntindon attack hero Stephen Crean has been denied a refund by Ryanair
|PA
Following the incident, Mr Crean was hailed as a hero, and three MPs called for him to be awarded a George Cross medal for his gallantry.
He had been planning to travel to Austria on November 5 to watch his beloved Nottingham Forest take on SK Sturm Graz.
However, the injuries suffered in the act meant the football fan would be unable to travel while he recuperated, forcing him to miss the European tie.
Despite the extraordinary circumstances, Ryanair informed Mr Crean he would be ineligible for a refund on his journey.
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Mr Crean heroically intervened to protect others during the mass stabbing
|GETTY
The airline suggested he should have taken out travel insurance ahead of his trip, as is their usual policy.
Philip Chambers, one of Mr Crean's closest friends who would have accompanied him to Austria, fumed at Ryanair’s response.
"It's shocking what Ryanair have done and Stephen is gutted he can't come,” he said.
"I understand they have policies and I'd say I'm not surprised - but you think they might change their mind when you think of the impact of what Stephen has done.
The Nottingham Forest fan's injuries forced him to miss his team's European tie
|PA
"They could at least reach out to him to privately given what's happened, but they can't even do that,” Mr Chambers despaired, per Cambridgshire Live.
A fundraiser was soon set up for Mr Crean, which has now raised more than £50,000. Among those contributing were Nottingham Forest, who gave £10,000.
The initiative, established by fellow Forest supporters who knew the 61-year-old from his years of travelling from London for matches, initially aimed to collect £500.
According to reports, Forest have also offered Mr Crean a complimentary season ticket for next year and invited him to accompany the squad on a Europa League journey, including accommodation at the team hotel and hospitality in the directors' box.
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