MS Sufferer Waited 20 Hours In Dover Traffic During Journey To Germany For Treatment

A multiple sclerosis sufferer had to wait 20 hours to get on a ferry at Dover in order to travel to Germany for treatment.

Tanya Cudworth, 50, was trying to go to a clinic in Frankfurt to undergo stem cell treatment after raising £5,000 for the trip.

However, like thousands of other travellers, she was caught up in the weekend disruption at the port of Dover, caused by staff shortages and heightened security on the French side of the English Channel.

She set off her with her partner, Deene, 53, from Tunbridge Wells at 8.30am on Saturday, but the couple, from Derby, did not make it on to a ferry until 4.20am on Sunday.

Her appointment at the clinic was scheduled for Monday.

Ms Cudworth described the experience as “absolutely horrendous”.

She said: “I’m taking the trip to get this treatment that I hope will keep me from having to go in a wheelchair.

“It’s not available on the NHS and we’ve done some fundraising. It’s a good job I didn’t have to be at the hospital sooner - 19 hours in the car has obviously aggravated my symptoms.”

Ms Cudworth, who works for Marston’s brewery, had to travel for treatment by road because of her condition.

“During the day it was so hot and there was nowhere near enough water and at night it was pitch black so you didn’t know what was going on around you,” she said.

“You couldn’t sleep because you had to keep moving forward.

“We didn’t get any water until 3am and I saw women with babies, young families and people with pets with no water.

“It’s shocking that more wasn’t done to get it to people, the authorities weren’t anywhere to be seen.

“My partner has been a lorry driver since he got his licence and he has never seen anything like it here or abroad.”

After being stuck in traffic for hours, the couple turned off the A20 to find a hotel, but every one was fully booked, forcing them to endure the crawl through traffic to the ferry port.

She said: “There’s a chance I will have to come back to Frankfurt for the treatment. If I do I will just have to fly.”

(Pictures: PA)