Stephen Crean, hailed as a hero for his bravery during a violent train incident, has been denied a refund by Ryanair after his injuries prevented him from flying.
The 61-year-old was stabbed seven times while courageously confronting an attacker on a train, armed only with his bare hands to protect fellow passengers.
A dedicated Nottingham Forest supporter, Crean was traveling back from a 2-2 draw against Manchester United when he heard cries for help and encountered the assailant.
Last Saturday evening, a mass stabbing occurred on the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train traveling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross, injuring ten people.
Crean had planned to fly to Austria on Wednesday to support his team, Nottingham Forest, as they faced Sturm Graz in the Europa League.
Unfortunately, his valiant efforts left him unable to make the trip due to the injuries he sustained.
Ryanair not only refused to refund Mr Crean, but advised him that he should have taken out travel insurance ‘in order to protect themselves’ against any losses.
‘All Ryanair air fares are non-refundable, which is why we strongly recommend passengers take out travel insurance in order to protect themselves if they can’t travel,’ the budget airline told NottinghamshireLive.
Huntingdon stabbing victim Stephen Crean at his home in southwest London on Monday
Mr Crean, 61, was last night named as one of the victims of the knife rampage
Forest fans have since spoken out against the decision, with some calling for a boycott of the airline.
Kevin George said: ‘He put his life on the line to protect other people and Ryanair’s response is absolutely disgusting.
‘There are many Forest fans flying out to Austria today and using Ryanair to get there. Hopefully fans will start to boycott the airline over the fact they’ve refused to refund a hero who put himself on the line for others.’
Philip Chambers added: ‘It’s shocking what Ryanair have done and Stephen is gutted he can’t come.’
Fans on social media also hit out at the decision, describing it as ‘shameful’ and calling on the airline to ‘do the right thing, refund the man.’
Recalling the horrific scenes, Mr Crean said he heard the screams of injured passengers and walked through the buffet car to a carriage where he came face to face with the attacker.
Astrid, 19, who was travelling alone on the train, was heading for the buffet car when Mr Crean swiftly placed himself between her and the knifeman who was coming up fast behind.
Speaking to BBC News, Astrid said that she was in no doubt he had saved her life, as well as those hiding in the buffet carriage with her.
Mr Crean, who was subsequently locked in with the knifeman, was stabbed in his left hand, three times in his back, once on his bottom and twice in his head (picured) before he managed to find an empty toilet to hide in
Teenage survivor of the Huntingdon train attacker, Astrid, 19, said that she was in no doubt Mr Crean had saved her life, as well as those hiding in the buffet carriage with her
Ten people were injured in the mass stabbing in the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Doncaster to London King’s Cross train last Saturday evening
Mr Crean recalled: ‘He had a great big oversized kitchen knife – it was as if it was a Japanese sword or something. He came towards me and said to me, “Do you want to die?”‘
He said he confronted the attacker to give another passenger time to close the buffet door behind him – allowing others to hide and potentially preventing dozens of injuries.
Mr Crean, who was subsequently locked in with the knifeman, was stabbed in his left hand, three times in his back, once on his bottom and twice in his head before he managed to find an empty toilet to hide in.
He lay on the floor losing blood, and about ten minutes later, opened the door to find armed police pointing guns at him.
‘There was big banging and kicking and shouting outside. [Armed police] came on board and I said my name, and they said, “Yeah, Stephen, you can open the door”. But even when I opened the door, they had the gun pointing at me to make sure it was me and I hadn’t put on a voice,’ he recalled.
‘They opened the door just for me, it was clever. They didn’t open the whole train, otherwise he’s going to get off.’
Mr Crean was taken by ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he was discharged from on Sunday morning.
‘I got caught on my fingers. He took a swing at this, and a swing at that. I got caught on the head,’ he said.
‘I was lucky. I got caught on the back a few times. They caught me a few times. The front of me, and my other arm. In the face and everything.’
He added: ‘I’m going to need plastic surgery. One finger doesn’t look clever. I’ve had stitches on them all.
‘I don’t know how long it’s going to take.’
Of his decision to fight back, he said: ‘Probably not many people would’ve done it, but then you’re leaving people behind you vulnerable.’
A group of Nottingham Forest fans set up a JustGiving page to raise money to support Mr Crean in recovering from his injuries.
The club itself made a £10,000 donation on Wednesday, taking the fundraising total to over £59,000.
According to talkSPORT reporter Max Scott, Nottingham Forest have also offered Crean a complimentary season ticket for next season, as well as inviting him to fly with the squad to a Europa League match, stay in the team hotel and watch the match with the club’s delegation in the director’s box.
Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder following the attack.
