Yahoo News British Airways facing £10,000 lawsuit after passenger "injured" by fat man
A businessman is suing British Airways for £10,000 claiming that sitting next to a 23-stone passenger injured his back.
Company director Stephen Prosser, 51, claims he suffered soft tissue damage after a 23-stone passenger “wedged” himself into the seat next to him.
BA seated the pair side by side for a 12-hour flight from Bangkok, in Thailand, to London Heathrow on January 10, 2016.
Mr Prosser, who is 5ft 2in, claims the obese passenger was “so large” his body fat “spilled” into his seat by several inches.
The freelance civil engineer said he was crushed against the side of the plane by the 6ft 5in 23-stone man.
His lawyers say Mr Prosser was “forced to adjust his body and sit in an awkward and uncomfortable position” for the whole 12 hour and 40 minute flight.
Mr Prosser says he was left suffering from his injuries for the next three months.
But BA deny the claims – stating Mr Prosser “did not not display any signs of injury” when leaving the flight and disagree that the man was fat.
Dad-of-two Mr Prosser said: “I’d paid over £1,000 for the flight and usually I fly Thai Airways but because BA had a sale on and were cheaper I went with them.
“Just as the plane door was about to close, this 6ft 5in elk, weighing about 23-stone got on-board and sat between myself and another passenger who had the aisle seat.
“He was a huge bloke, not just overweight but really big boned as well. He was a real lump.
“I felt discomfort as soon as he sat down because I was pinned against the side of the cabin. I’m only about 5ft 2in and weigh 10 stone.
“I ended up doing a lot of damage to my back over the course of a nightmare 13-hours.”
Mr Prosser says he continued to see a chiropractor up until May this year.
Defence documents to the claim show Mr Prosser was sitting in a window seat on the plane and the “obese” passenger was in the middle seat.
A BA customer service manager said the passenger next to Mr Prosser was “well built and over six feet tall, but certainly not fat”.
Mr Prosser, of Tonypandy, South Wales, was offered extra pillows and blankets to support his back – which he accepted.
He is claiming between £5,000 and £10,000 as general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.
The case is set to be heard at Pontypridd County Court on Friday.
Before the hearing, a spokeswoman for BA said: “As the case is subject to ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment.”
