Italian air strike heartbreak for family of five

May 22 2007 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo

A FAMILY of five today suffered Champions League heartbreak as an air strike put hundreds at risk of missing the final.

The party from Bootle had planned to fly to the Italian port of Ancona to take an 18-hour ferry to Greece.

But an eight-hour strike by Italy’s air traffic controllers grounded their flight from John Lennon airport.

Ryanair warned passengers of the last-minute strike by text message yesterday evening.

Some lucky fans were crammed on to a scheduled flight due to go direct to Athens on Wednesday morning.

But among those left heartbroken was Peter Dewhurst and his 14-year-old son Craig.

The teenager, with his father, cousin Sammy, 15, and two uncles, returned home to Bootle after paying £650 for the trip.

Ryanair offered them a later flight, but the next available ferry would not have arrived in Greece until Thursday morning.

Mr Dewhurst said: “This was a birthday present for Craig and he’s really upset. We can’t afford more money and it would get there too late anyway. It’s a nightmare.”

Some Reds fans drove straight to JLA after hearing of the strike last night, with some being squeezed on to different flights.

Forklift truck driver Tony Moore, 43, who got on Wednesday’s Athens flight, said: “I’m pleased we were able to sort an alternative but feel for the lads who couldn’t.”

Stephen McDonough, 21, from West Derby, also made a dash to JLA. His dad David said: “Stephen and his 10 mates were sorted, but only because they got there quickly.”