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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brittany Ferries refuses to let pregnant woman board | Brittany Ferries refuses to let pregnant woman board |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A heavily pregnant British woman was left with an "extremely stressful" journey back to the UK after a ferry company refused to allow her on board. | A heavily pregnant British woman was left with an "extremely stressful" journey back to the UK after a ferry company refused to allow her on board. |
| Katie Kissack, 32, was booked on Brittany Ferries' Roscoff to Plymouth sailing on Sunday with her parents and three-year-old daughter. | |
| Mrs Kissack, who is 34 weeks pregnant, was told women over 32 weeks were not permitted to travel. | Mrs Kissack, who is 34 weeks pregnant, was told women over 32 weeks were not permitted to travel. |
| The company said it had "every sympathy" but its rules were clear. | The company said it had "every sympathy" but its rules were clear. |
| Mrs Kissack was told 60 minutes before departure that she would not be allowed on board and got a taxi to a nearby town where she spent the night in a hotel. | Mrs Kissack was told 60 minutes before departure that she would not be allowed on board and got a taxi to a nearby town where she spent the night in a hotel. |
| 'Intransigent approach' | 'Intransigent approach' |
| She has started the journey back to her parents' home in Cornwall by train, accompanied by her mother and daughter. | She has started the journey back to her parents' home in Cornwall by train, accompanied by her mother and daughter. |
| Mrs Kissack told BBC News: "I am aware that my husband and I made an error in not noticing the 32-week limit when we booked. | Mrs Kissack told BBC News: "I am aware that my husband and I made an error in not noticing the 32-week limit when we booked. |
| "Having said that, the booking was made a long time ago. I consider myself to be in good health and so did not go into the special requirements area where we may have seen it. | "Having said that, the booking was made a long time ago. I consider myself to be in good health and so did not go into the special requirements area where we may have seen it. |
| "The journey so far has been long, tiring and extremely stressful. | "The journey so far has been long, tiring and extremely stressful. |
| "The risk of deep vein thrombosis due to a long seated [train] journey and rocketing costs are doing nothing to reduce the stress. | "The risk of deep vein thrombosis due to a long seated [train] journey and rocketing costs are doing nothing to reduce the stress. |
| "This compared to what would have been a short and comfortable journey seems a high price to pay for Brittany Ferries' intransigent approach." | "This compared to what would have been a short and comfortable journey seems a high price to pay for Brittany Ferries' intransigent approach." |
| Mrs Kissack, who lives in Barcelona with her husband, was travelling back to the UK to have her second child. | Mrs Kissack, who lives in Barcelona with her husband, was travelling back to the UK to have her second child. |
| She had arranged to meet her parents in Roscoff after making the two-day journey up from Spain by car. | |
| Her father, John Tisdale, a recently retired GP from Probus near Truro, said he offered to take responsibility for her health during the crossing. | Her father, John Tisdale, a recently retired GP from Probus near Truro, said he offered to take responsibility for her health during the crossing. |
| However, the captain refused the request. | However, the captain refused the request. |
| 'Morally wrong' | 'Morally wrong' |
| Dr Tisdale, who decided to board the ferry to bring his daughter's dog and car back to the UK, said she was "very tearful and upset". | Dr Tisdale, who decided to board the ferry to bring his daughter's dog and car back to the UK, said she was "very tearful and upset". |
| He said he felt Brittany Ferries' attitude was "morally wrong" and that concern for the stress it would cause his daughter "should have taken precedence over company policy". | He said he felt Brittany Ferries' attitude was "morally wrong" and that concern for the stress it would cause his daughter "should have taken precedence over company policy". |
| Stephen Tuckwell, from Brittany Ferries, said: "The captain's decision is final and while we have every sympathy and understand the father's frustration, the fact that he's a doctor does not give him the right to overrule the captain. | Stephen Tuckwell, from Brittany Ferries, said: "The captain's decision is final and while we have every sympathy and understand the father's frustration, the fact that he's a doctor does not give him the right to overrule the captain. |
| "He doesn't have responsibility for the safety of passengers - the captain does - and the rules are there in black and white." | "He doesn't have responsibility for the safety of passengers - the captain does - and the rules are there in black and white." |
| Brittany Ferries is not the only ferry company to impose restrictions regarding pregnancy. | Brittany Ferries is not the only ferry company to impose restrictions regarding pregnancy. |
| DFDS and LD Lines require women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant to produce a medical certificate stating they are fit to travel. | DFDS and LD Lines require women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant to produce a medical certificate stating they are fit to travel. |
| At P&O women travelling on short trips who are more than 38 weeks pregnant must produce a certificate. Stena Lines has no upper limit. | At P&O women travelling on short trips who are more than 38 weeks pregnant must produce a certificate. Stena Lines has no upper limit. |