EasyJet: Family left 'anxious and scared' after airline refuses to fly 11-year-old son home from Turkey

Kilburn, from Barlestone in Leicestershire, claimed the ordeal was an “extraordinary rollercoaster of emotions”.

Vinnie broke his leg early into the holiday after slipping by the hotel pool.

He was rushed to hospital for treatment but problems arose from travel insurance.

The family claim they had to wait until MayDay Assistance and Holiday Extras approved their request for Vinnie to receive treatment.

The 11-year-old, who is a promising rugby and football player, was then moved to another hospital by ambulance to undergo surgery.

Vinnie received further medical treatment, surgery to correct his tibia and metal splints.

Matters were made even worse when EasyJet refused to let Vinnie on the return flight as it could not accommodate for a stretcher and was only willing to accept a wheelchair.

Kilburn said: "As parents you always want to take any pain away from your child and wish you could swap places with them.

“It was heartbreaking to hear the ear piercing screams from our child who is usually so strong.

“We just thought the insurance company would realise the severity of our situation and would sort out the payment quickly so Vinnie could get the treatment he needed."

Vinnie’s father Tom said on social media: "We've been denied boarding because he can't use the wheelchairs that they've got here.

"The wheelchairs do not support the leg. They wanted to manhandle his leg taking him through.

"An English doctor in the queue said do not let them do that because it can do more damage and we are stuck."

He also revealed the family were being moved to another hotel but were placed in a "nightmare" situation.

A fundraising campaign page has been opened to ‘help bring Vinnie home’.

Vinnie will return home later today via an Airlec Ambulance organised by Hearts First Ambulance Service.

A spokesperson from Holiday Extras told LeicestershireLive: "Holiday Extras takes all claims of this nature extremely seriously and has been working with the underwriters of the family's policy and their medical assistance provider, Mayday Assistance, to find the appropriate solution for this complex case as quickly as possible."

A spokesperson for Mayday Assistance's underwriters reportedly said: "We can confirm that Mayday Assistance is in direct communication with the family and is assessing all options for them to return home safely as soon as possible."

An EasyJet spokesperson added: "We are sorry that Vincent and his family were unable to travel on flight EZY2142 from Antalya to Manchester as we are unable to accept stretchers on board as stated in our medical policy and as was explained to the family's travel agent.

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers is our highest priority and we always do everything we can to support passengers who may additional assistance when travelling.

"We made arrangements for Vincent to have special assistance throughout the airport and during boarding as we were advised by the family's travel agent that he was able to travel in a wheelchair, however as he would only travel in a stretcher, they were unfortunately unable to travel."