URGENT: At/going through LHR T5 now? Grandad lost for 2dys in transit @ T5

[thewinchester]

URGENT: At/going through LHR T5 now? Grandad lost for 2dys in transit @ T5 (updated)

Cross-post from FlyerTalk. If you can pass it out via your networks/contacts if you know anyone in or passing through LHR T5 in the coming hours I'm sure the OP would appreciate it.

As of 4:15AM AWST, FT thread is still active and no sight of or contact from the missing person with his family.

His description:

• Name: Bob Hollands
• Caucasian male, 78yrs
• 5"8, stocky build
• Bald (if not wearing cap)
• Last seen wearing a cap bearing the symbols 'O.P.P.' (Ontario Provincial Police) with his name in embroider in smaller lettering on back and sites, camouflage boots and a Napanee raiders coat.
• Has significant hearing difficulties, and on medication.
• Was en-route to Montreal before flight was cancelled.

These are the most recent images available of the missing gent (click for larger versions):



If you or anyone you know finds him, please have him to call home as soon on 07894279244 (UK local number).

My Grandfather who has been over in England from Canada for Christmas is currently lost alone in transit at Heathrow airport. He was flying from Newcastle to Heathrow then Heathrow to Montreal but his flight BA0095 to Montreal yesterday at 15.30 was cancelled due to the weather. He has never really travelled before and doesn’t understand his rights as a customer so wasn’t particularly pushy with British Airways to help him. They therefore fobbed him off and he spent the night at Heathrow airport. He called us last night from a pay phone to tell us what had happened but b that time BA’s service desk was closed and he hasn’t called again since. We are really worried about him particularly because he is an elderly man who is on medication which may be running out as I write this. His only contact phone is a Canadian mobile phone which has run out of battery so we are relying on him to get in touch with us. We are really upset at British Airways for not looking after him better, although we understand it’s probably chaos in Heathrow a man of his age should not be told there is nothing they can do for him and be made to feel like it’s his problem his flight was cancelled. If anyone is reading this from Heathrow airport please keep an eye out for an old man wearing a cap with the symbols O.P.P on the front, camouflage trousers and a Napanee raiders coat on and if you do see him tell him to call his family in Newcastle. There is a policewomen looking for him and a tannoy at terminal 5 requesting he contact us but as of yet we have had no response although this may be because he is pretty deaf. Any help or advice would be most appreciated. Thank you.

 

[ellen10]

I can sympathise with the missing Grandad's family and I hope they find him soon.
This time last year my son on his first trip overseas alone was caught at Heathrow with flights cancelled, left on a plane for 6 hours on the runway with no food only water. They were eventually loaded back off the plane into a deserted terminal at 2.30am and bused to T5 where there were thousands of other travellers. They were told no information lined up in a queue for 3 hours only to be told it was the wrong queue. He met up with 2 frightened young Aussie girls, sat on the floor (no seats left), they were offered no vouchers and had no money for food. (Having used up his pounds before leaving they pooled their loose change which came to 6 pounds with which they bought half price Christmas lollies, all they could afford).
When they were first unloaded he managed to phone us by mobile to tell us about the cancelled flight and presumed he would get the same flight 24 hours later, but that was the last we heard from him as he had packed his charger in his suitcase and battery went flat.

Sorry about the longer winded story (the was lots more uninformation from BA but I wont go on). We in Australia could get no information from our end, even trying to ring BA in London. We tried to track his flight lots of dead ends eventually being told by someone at BA that, the flight had been dropped out of the system because it had been completed - hadnt even taken off. I might add I phoned his TA - Flight Centre (I know, I know) - and the agent told me he would have to get himself on another flight, that BA would not automatically do it and FC could do nothing, ugh!

We live 1.5 hours from the airport so had no other options but to go to Syd airport 24 hours after the original arrival time and greet each arriving plane. It was a horrible couple of hours scaning exiting passengers for a familiar face. Even at Sydney airport we couldn't find out if he was on a flight roster. They had 2 BA009 flights on arr board at 2 hour intervals. We were not alone there were many more uniformed parents/greeters waiting. Our son eventually came out through the arrivals 30 hours later than his original arr time. He said it was chaos at the LHR, BA staff had no idea what was happening, seems like they havent learnt from last years mess.

My sympathies go out to the concerned family it is a horrible feeling of not knowing what is happening especially when you know they are inexperienced travellers.

 

[Mal]

He has been found:

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - My Grandfather is lost at heathrow

To our great relief he has eventually been found. Carole who is my Dad's partner has just been in contact to tell me she has been contacted by BA who told her they had him their and had organised for him to fly back to Montreal at 3pm this afternoon. We have no clear idea of the circumstance of his dissapearence yet but Carole mentioned that he had been in hospital as he had fainted at the airport due to the long wait. I am currently trying to contact everyone in my family to let them know. I am so relieved. I will post a full report at some point later tonight when i know all the details.

You are all unbelievable, you may very well be the reason we have found him. We will find out soon, either way the effort you have put in has been extraordinary. I don't know how to thank you all enough.

Joe

 

[thewinchester]

That's great news for all concerned, thanks for posting Mal.