Holidaymakers say they were treated 'like cattle' as they blast Thomas Cook for allowing them to fly to Gambia despite the country's ongoing political turmoil

  • Jessica Chadwick, 22, and Henry Minden, 25, visited Gambia on a winter break
  • Were not told until the last minute that African country was on the verge of war
  • Had just 20 minutes to pack their stuff and get to airport on the last plane out
  • Slammed Thomas Cook for 'lack of organisation' and no information beforehand 

By James Dunn For Mailonline

Published: 08:22 EST, 22 January 2017 | Updated: 09:31 EST, 22 January 2017

A British couple have described how they were 'treated like cattle' by travel company Thomas Cook as they fled the Gambia amid political turmoil.  

Jessica Chadwick, 22, and Henry Minden, 25, from Timperley, near Manchester, travelled to Gambia on a winter break they spent months saving for.

They spent a peaceful evening at their hotel on Tuesday, but the next day Jessica was shocked to receive a phone call from her mother urging her to fly home.

Jessica Chadwick, 22, from Timperley, travelled to Gambia with her boyfriend Henry Minden, 25, on Tuesday for a winter break they spent months saving for

But they said they were 'treated like cattle' when they were flown back after the Foreign Office advised people to halt all 'non-essential' travel to the country

The announcement came as the country suddenly erupted into political turmoil when its leader agreed to step down

The Foreign Office had issued advice to holidaymakers to avoid all non-essential travel due to the result of a disputed presidential election.

Jessica and Henry were shocked as the Gambian travel reps said there would be a new president inaugurated on Thursday, but did not mention any political unrest.

The couple said they were not informed by the hotel or reps until the very last minute and were ordered to get on a coach to the airport with 20 minutes notice.

At the airport they were faced with chaotic scenes in the scramble for a flight home and eventually returned to Manchester at 3am on Thursday morning.

Jessica, a travel industry worker in the Lake District, said: 'We had a Gambian Thomas Cook travel rep. He said the new president inauguration was taking place this Thursday.

'We didn't think much of it and spent the evening there. The next day my mother was saying we needed to pack our bags.'

Jessica (pictured with Henry), 22, said they were not told of any problems until the very last minutes and had less than half an hour to pack their stuff and go

Coalition soldiers patrol in the main street of Karang, Senegal, near the border with The Gambia, where war may soon break out

She added: 'When we got to the airport there were hoards of passengers. It was so unorganised, and absolutely boiling hot. It was just horrific. Nobody could get any water.

'There were no reps to help us. We were stood like cattle shoulder to shoulder.

'After we took off the pilot said "I know it has been a difficult situation but count yourself lucky as it is the last plane to leave".

'Obviously we are very grateful for that, It does not make up for the total lack of organisation in the airport and beforehand.

'The week leading up to it people have shut up shops, none of the banks were open. Nobody told us anything, it was like they had been told to be silent.'

In this image taken from TV, Gambia's longtime leader Yahya Jammeh appears on state TV to give a brief statement agreeing to step down from office, in Banjul, Gambia

Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh boards a plane at the airport as he flies away in exile yesterday

Jessica and Henry saved up £1,000 for the package holiday and have been told by Thomas Cook they will get a refund.

A spokesman for the firm said: 'The safety of our customers is always our first priority. We follow Foreign Office advice and we never offer holidays to destinations where they recommend against travel.

'We have been monitoring the situation in the Gambia closely, and we always encourage our customers to speak to us directly if they have concerns about travelling to their holiday destination.

'As soon as the Foreign Office changed its advice on Tuesday evening, we implemented contingency plans to bring home over 3,500 of our customers from the Gambia in 16 flights over three days, and we are pleased that we were able to bring Ms Chadwick safely back to the UK.'

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