Nearly murdered on the Orient Express

The Sun
21 May 2010

A WOMAN paralysed for life during a dream trip on the famous Orient Express train is battling for compensation.

Sylvia Brown paid £7,000 for the holiday with husband John to celebrate her 60th birthday and their 40th wedding anniversary.

But she was seriously injured on the second day of their journey of a lifetime in Thailand.

As she and John, 64, enjoyed the view from the iconic train's observation car, the driver slammed on the brakes - sending her flying from her seat.

She hit the seat in front and crashed to the floor, breaking a bone in her spine.

The mum-of-two spent 16 days in hospital before returning to Britain paralysed in all her limbs.

Sylvia has regained some use of her arms but is still confined to a wheelchair and will never walk again.

She said: "At times the pain is unbelievable. I scream with agony trying to perform the simplest tasks.

"I was expecting a fantastic trip on this world-famous train, not a wheelchair. I have had to give up work and my life has changed forever."

The couple had to sell their house in Exeter, Devon, to pay for her long-term care and now rent a bungalow in Honiton.

Six months after the accident, no compensation has been agreed and it remains unclear who is to blame.

It is understood the train company leases coaches from the State Railway of Thailand, which manages the line.

She claims the companies have declined repeated requests to negotiate compensation.

Her lawyer Julian Chamberlayne said: "This is heartbreaking. They've lost everything and been left to fend for themselves. It's not good enough."

None of the companies involved would comment for legal reasons.

Please click the pdf below to read the full article.