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XL man rescues job and honeymoon | XL man rescues job and honeymoon |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A call centre worker who lost his job and wedding when travel operator XL collapsed has found a new employer and rescued his Caribbean honeymoon. | |
David Hopkin, 29, of Swansea, also lost the £8,000 he paid for his wedding in St Lucia to Clare Addis, 29. | David Hopkin, 29, of Swansea, also lost the £8,000 he paid for his wedding in St Lucia to Clare Addis, 29. |
Since then, an anonymous donor has paid for the wedding, a St Lucia hotel has offered them accommodation and Virgin Atlantic has given them two flights. | Since then, an anonymous donor has paid for the wedding, a St Lucia hotel has offered them accommodation and Virgin Atlantic has given them two flights. |
Now Mr Hopkin has a new travel job, as an expert on the Caribbean and Florida. | Now Mr Hopkin has a new travel job, as an expert on the Caribbean and Florida. |
He starts his new post with holiday firm Travel House next month, after returning from honeymoon. | He starts his new post with holiday firm Travel House next month, after returning from honeymoon. |
The pair were offered return flights to the Caribbean by Virgin Atlantic and hotel group Rex Resorts offered them accommodation in St Lucia. | The pair were offered return flights to the Caribbean by Virgin Atlantic and hotel group Rex Resorts offered them accommodation in St Lucia. |
Mr Hopkin said: "We are unbelievably delighted - it's a happy ending after all. Clare is delighted - women dream about their wedding day and it looked all gone - until people came to our help David Hopkin | Mr Hopkin said: "We are unbelievably delighted - it's a happy ending after all. Clare is delighted - women dream about their wedding day and it looked all gone - until people came to our help David Hopkin |
"We were hit by a triple blow - our wedding, the honeymoon and my job. | "We were hit by a triple blow - our wedding, the honeymoon and my job. |
"We thought the money we had paid for the honeymoon was protected but we lost that too. | "We thought the money we had paid for the honeymoon was protected but we lost that too. |
"It looked like a complete disaster but people have been brilliant and it's all fallen into place. | "It looked like a complete disaster but people have been brilliant and it's all fallen into place. |
"An anonymous donor came up with the money to save the day - and then Virgin and the hotel helped out too. | "An anonymous donor came up with the money to save the day - and then Virgin and the hotel helped out too. |
"Clare is delighted. Women dream about their wedding day and it looked all gone - until people came to our help." | "Clare is delighted. Women dream about their wedding day and it looked all gone - until people came to our help." |
The anonymous donor stepped in after reading about the couple's plight the day after XL folded. | The anonymous donor stepped in after reading about the couple's plight the day after XL folded. |
Booking | Booking |
Ms Addis said: "We don't know who it is, but David and I call him our guardian angel. | Ms Addis said: "We don't know who it is, but David and I call him our guardian angel. |
"Isn't it fantastic how good people can be? We were in trouble and people have come forward to help out. We're so pleased that our big day will go ahead." | "Isn't it fantastic how good people can be? We were in trouble and people have come forward to help out. We're so pleased that our big day will go ahead." |
The collapse of the UK's third largest package holiday group left 85,000 people stranded abroad and thousands of staff facing the axe. | The collapse of the UK's third largest package holiday group left 85,000 people stranded abroad and thousands of staff facing the axe. |
Tourists who booked package deals were refunded but holidaymakers booking direct with XL, like the couple, lost thousands of pounds. | Tourists who booked package deals were refunded but holidaymakers booking direct with XL, like the couple, lost thousands of pounds. |
XL, which carried 2.3m passengers last year, was the latest travel business to face financial difficulties as the industry struggles with high fuel costs and the economic downturn. | XL, which carried 2.3m passengers last year, was the latest travel business to face financial difficulties as the industry struggles with high fuel costs and the economic downturn. |
The first oil price rises had increased its year-on-year costs by more than £40m. | The first oil price rises had increased its year-on-year costs by more than £40m. |
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