Panic attacks trap UK boy in Australia

A family is being forced to live 10,500 miles apart — because their son is terrified of making the journey to Britain from Australia. Thomas Hill, 16, suffers from Asperger syndrome, a form of autism, and is scared of flying.

He managed to make the trip out to Australia when his parents Jason and Lisa emigrated in January 2008. But since they decided to return to the UK after becoming homesick, Thomas has had crippling panic attacks and has refused to travel — even by sea.

He has made three attempts to get back to Britain — twice by plane and once by ship — but all have failed. He is now stranded in Sydney with Lisa while Jason is in Britain with daughter Rebecca, 13. Jason, 38, who is staying with relatives in Nottingham, said yesterday: “I’m worried sick.



“Thomas won’t fly and our effort to get him home by boat failed miserably. My wife was sobbing hysterically when she phoned to tell me they had to get off the ship. We had used all our savings to pay £7,500 for a two-month cruise from Sydney to Britain as Thomas said he would go on a boat. But when he got on the ship he suffered a panic attack and freaked out. The ship’s doctor saw him and said he couldn’t travel.”

Jason said he had been told by airlines the only way his son can travel is with a doctor who could give him sedatives during the flight. He said: “They would have to travel Business Class as Thomas would have to lie down for the flight because of the sedatives.

“My wife would have to travel with him. The cost is enormous and we don’t have the money. Our only glimmer of hope is that some airline will take pity on us and help.”